(The original) The Shining: filmed on a 1.37:1 negative for display on a 1.33:1 TV or matting to 1.85:1 in theater (see 1, 2, 3 and many other sources). So why does my PC's DVD player grab screenshots at 1.50:1? [more inside]posted by Tuwa at 8:57 PM PST - 15 comments

Does anyone know of an online photo processing website that will allow me to upload photos and get them printed off as postcards? I've only found a few sites that will do this and they tend to be rather expensive (i.e. $2 per postcard). Also, the website would need to ship to Canada. Thanks posted by jplank at 7:58 PM PST - 13 comments

My father-in-law (retired blue-collar aluminum worker, widowed, fixed-income, screwed out of health benefits when his former corporate employer filed bankruptcy) has an old Win 98 computer. Last year I installed major upgrades and switched him to Redhat Linux. All was well until Cox Cable swapped his old cable modem for a Webstar that is not Linux compatible. Can I get him back on Cox Cable with Redhat Linux without having to buy a new computer? Would a new cable modem work and if so, what brand? posted by Didaskalos at 3:36 PM PST - 21 comments

I'm currently subscribed to, and wish to unsubscribe from, American Public Media's "Speaking of Faith" and "Writer's Almanac" e-mail newsletters. Neither APM's site nor the newsletters themselves seem to offer an unsubscribe function. I even e-mailed APM several months ago to request that I be removed from their mailing list, but haven't heard back.
Short of adding APM to my ISP's or mail client's spam filter, how can I stop these newsletters? posted by cmyers at 3:25 PM PST - 11 comments

How can I make a wireless internet connection as secure as possible? This question is actually for my father, whose practice is set up in a building that offers free wireless access to its tenants. [more inside]posted by Sara Anne at 1:14 PM PST - 13 comments

Ajax design - The more little UI widgets I add to my project, the harder it is to maintain a coherent directory structure. Any tips or articles on how to maintain an intelligent directory/site structure on Ajax projects, where you have N number of little UI widgets that are retrieved on demand? posted by xmutex at 1:05 PM PST - 2 comments

You know those pickled sausages you can buy at convenience stores? The ones wrapped in plastic with a little bit of brine? I love those things. Especially if they're spicy hot. My dad used to buy them at the grocery store back when they had to be fished from a jar with a pair of tongs. How do I make pickled sausages of my own? Has anyone done this before? I'm willing to go to a lot of effort in order to have a jar of tasty pickled sausages that I can access at a whim: boiling, cooking, canning, whatever. Though it's going to limit responses, I'm mostly interested in recipes that you've tried yourself and know to be good. (I'm also open to recipes for other pickled meat, as well.) Nutrition not a factor.posted by jdroth at 12:54 PM PST - 20 comments

Every time I boot up my Intel Imac, I have to unplug and then replug my external hard drive in order for it to mount. It's a 160GB Seagate SATA internal that I put in an iRocks 3.5 enclosure (USB). When I open up Disk Utility, the drive is not displayed in the left column (until I unplug, then plug). It's just storage for my EyeTV files, but still annoying to have to do that every time. Ideas? posted by drewcopeland at 12:12 PM PST - 3 comments

I have a hard disk that I pulled out of a dead computer. It has been formated and has data on it. Are there any external adapters that I can plug it into so that I can use it as an external drive? posted by mtstover at 10:49 AM PST - 13 comments

I am purchasing a couple of Mac Minis for a little project, and I need legit copies of MS Office 2004 for Mac. I can find plenty of places online selling the "Full, Standard" version of the software, which is what I want, for $125-$175. This is over 50% off list. Are these discounters selling illegitimate copies? Can you suggest a good place to buy this software? I need to purchase it by midnight tonight (we expense software for tax purposes). posted by Kwantsar at 10:45 AM PST - 7 comments

I am looking for fun/funky one-of-a-kind type places. Places that you take a visitor because they don't have a shop like that in their town. [more inside]posted by deedeep at 10:42 AM PST - 12 comments

My Dell Inspiron 5100 Laptop will not boot from any burned Live CDs, and in Windows XP the CDs appear blank. Other computers will load from the same LiveCDs, and my laptop will boot from the Dell diagnostic CD that came with the computer. Please help. [more inside]posted by billtron at 9:00 AM PST - 3 comments

I got a new USB drive, but when I plug it into my computer at work, it does not automatically launch an Explorer window, not does it recognize the autoplay icon I have on there. [more inside]posted by timepiece at 8:21 AM PST - 8 comments

Do you know the name of this song and the artist? It's a female singer. The only way that I can think of to describe the style is French or Brazilian jazz. The only lyrics that I remember are "and the duck goes quack quack" and also something about a goose going "honk" and "summer." (MI) [more inside]posted by Juicylicious at 4:50 AM PST - 17 comments

I have been searching for video of a 1980s UK advert quite possibly for mushrooms, which featured lines of mushrooms marching towards the viewer chanting "Make Room For The Mushrooms!" I have looked on YouTube, etc and searched vaguely around torrent sites. Does anyone have it on VHS just waiting to be capped and uploaded or (more realistically) any ideas where I might find it or where else I might ask posted by criticalbill at 2:30 AM PST - 8 comments

September 29

Anal mp3 tagging question: I'm organizing my mp3 collection and frustrated with how inaccurate the genre tags are. Does anyone know of any good programs that can automatically scan mp3 and update accurate and more specific mp3 genres?
(iam currently using fixtunes which uses the amazon database, which is quite awful.) posted by nyu2 at 11:22 PM PST - 17 comments

What movies or documentaries have good scenes that could help me demonstrate important topics surrounding the American Revolution? I teach 8th grade. [more inside]posted by allthewhile at 8:11 PM PST - 18 comments

"Iowa, It's a Beautiful Name" by (I think) Meredith Wilson. Does anybody know the lyrics or a songbook that contains it? It was published around the time of WWII. Thank You. posted by davereed at 6:51 PM PST - 3 comments

What tools are best for peeling and cubing butternut squashes? I'm not looking for recipes; I need recommendations for knives or vegetable peelers or whatever works best. [more inside]posted by booksandlibretti at 6:45 PM PST - 23 comments

The alumni association wants to buy me some network security software for the students to block "non educational sites," prevent them from downloading related software, and can revert back to a specified login setup. Looking for suggestions inside. [more inside]posted by jmd82 at 4:06 PM PST - 5 comments

I've heard astronomy has given us great insights about basic physics (and could be seen as a form of basic physics research). What technologies do we have today that can trace their gensis to astronomical findings? posted by phrontist at 3:36 PM PST - 10 comments

Has an economist ever calculated the worth of human life? It would be an added bonus if it s/he had worked out the different value in different parts of the world. [more inside]posted by Kattullus at 3:32 PM PST - 14 comments

Is craigslist now the only place to search for apartments in urban areas of the U.S.? What does this mean for the significant share of the population that is not computer literate? [more inside]posted by croutonsupafreak at 3:14 PM PST - 17 comments

Sending many different encrypted strings as URL arguments and want to decode them via a shared public key. How much security is necessary and possible? [more inside]posted by ducksauce at 1:52 PM PST - 32 comments

We're about to have our house exterior repainted, and it will need sanding and grinding. Should we use a regular painter, or do we need a lead abatement specialist? [more inside]posted by daisyace at 1:38 PM PST - 6 comments

Today I find myself in a precarious situation. I am a college student who happens to live in a four bedroom apartment with two other guys; however, I have discoverd that one of my roommates is flying his internet girlfriend in from Alaska on Saturday morning so that they can live together (The story gets better/worse - they developed their relationship through playing Warcraft). [more inside]posted by j-urb at 12:39 PM PST - 107 comments

Wow, not one "cure" question under the "hangover" tag. Anyhow my wife has a bit of a hangover from wine last night and I'd like to help her out. What do you suggest for a remedy? Anything that you swear by? She's got mostly a splitting headache and a little nausea. I know water prevents it, but it's already happened. posted by zek at 12:16 PM PST - 55 comments

I have a new SanDisk Sansa m230 512MB. I had it loaded up and plugged into my Thinkpad T23 (with Ubuntu Dapper on it). I accidentally unplugged it while it was ejecting, and when I next tried plugging it in, the unit was read-only. [more inside]posted by sholdens12 at 9:24 AM PST - 7 comments

A friend and I are starting an adult TGP. We're both highly skilled web designers / programmers and realize that the only way we'll have a shot in the crowded world of online porn is to make our site as unique as possible. So what features (existing or not) have you always wanted to see on a TGP site? [more inside]posted by c:\awesome at 9:06 AM PST - 29 comments

Acquarium hobbyist looking for suggestions on her new-found obsession. I've had a freshwater tank for years and just now really got into having it heavily planted and aquascaped. Now I'm really wanting to expand and possibly develop a cichlid or saltwater tank. There's just a few problems, (and lots of questions) [more inside]posted by gilsonal at 7:43 AM PST - 7 comments

I have a 7 month old son. We love him to death, but he's currently driving us crazy with his wildly inconsistent sleeping habits. What should we do? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:19 AM PST - 27 comments

Why don't the New York Times Reader, Doppler, and Juice work?
Doppler and Juice started crashing on my XP (SP2) box after a period of normal use, and I can't get the Times Reader to run at all. The common thread seems to be that these applications use various versions of .NET. The Times Reader requires the NET 3.0 Framework, which supposedly was downloaded as part of the Reader install. Any suggestions? posted by lukemeister at 6:02 AM PST - 7 comments

My Toshiba DLP (44NHM) that is a little over a year old turns itself off after about 5 seconds of being on. Turn it on, warms up everything looks fine it turns off after 5 seconds. Does the bulb need replacing? [more inside]posted by geoff. at 4:39 AM PST - 5 comments

September 28

Oops, a really loud "boom" went over my computer speakers, and now they hiss way more than they should. Here's the thing. This isn't the first time. Oh yes, there will be... [more inside]posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 11:05 PM PST - 4 comments

Is there any flash-based mp3 player that plays WAV files, has an FM tuner, records standard (44.1) WAV files from this FM tuner, has a 1GB or higher capacity, and is not much over $100? (I'm also grateful for any "almost" answers, since those might help me refine my Googling.) posted by lorimer at 10:06 PM PST - 16 comments

Chivalry filter: If a lady offers her hand to a gentleman, palm down, and they're someowhere causual like say, a coffee shop, should the gent kiss the lady's hand? Is there a formal way to receive the hand besides smooching it? posted by serazin at 10:00 PM PST - 25 comments

A friend has (accidentally) deleted a blog on Blogspot. If Blogspot says they can't bring it back, is there some other way to bring it back from the great beyond? [more inside]posted by divka at 8:03 PM PST - 14 comments

Elton John has a new album out. One of the songs contains this lyric: "And I don't recall who said it at this time / That 'your enemies grow strong on what you leave behind'". Is that a real quote from somewhere? Searching Google for more details just returns page after page of lyrics sites all with the lyrics for this song. posted by Servo5678 at 4:31 PM PST - 4 comments

I need to batch process mp3 files from high bitrate to lower bitrate. LAME can do that - I think, but can anyone help me optimize for spoken mp3 files? I need a command line example and it might need a lowpass filter setting.
Thanks
BB posted by bright77blue at 2:16 PM PST - 6 comments

MovingFilter - Alright, Mefi, one last time. In about 24 hours, we need to load up our car with our worldy possesions and ship the rest for our move cross country. How best to ship about a dozen boxes of a standard size? [more inside]posted by EatTheWeak at 1:54 PM PST - 17 comments

Where can I download ringtones that sound like actual "ring tones"? I don't want Black Eyed Peas or Justin Timberlake. A beeping or a ringing sound will do. I can't believe how difficult this has been to find.
Thanks. posted by wfc123 at 1:41 PM PST - 18 comments

I recently upgraded an old Mac G4 733mhz to iTunes 7. Yeah, big mistake. Beachballs galore. Is there a way to switch back to the previous version? Or could I install a faster processor (If I had read the system requirements it called for 1 ghz chip or faster)? This is a secondary computer that was basically used as a music player, so some light tinkering would be acceptable. posted by vronsky at 1:40 PM PST - 13 comments

The spouse and I would like to go to counseling together - not because of any problems in our relationship, but because we both have issues with being forthcoming in individual therapy and in initiating a dialogue with the therapist. We figure that if we went together, we could enable each other to open up and at the very least support each other through what is (for us anyway) an unpleasant experience. (And if it makes us a happier couple, that's just a nice side effect.) Does anyone have any experience with this sort of arrangement? Should we pursue someone who specializes in marriage counseling, or someone who specializes in individual therapy? We each have psychiatrists and are on medication for anxiety and depression - this is talk or cognitive therapy we're talking about. Thanks! posted by anonymous at 1:15 PM PST - 5 comments

On some days, my Outlook calendar has blue and white diagonal lines on the sides of the day. Why is this? I know these lines mean "tenative," but I only really know one way to set appointments. Why do some days have these and others do not. [more inside]posted by 4ster at 12:24 PM PST - 2 comments

I'm curious about OLD historical photos that are in color and have such accurate color rendition that they look like they could have been taken in the past few years. [more inside]posted by chef_boyardee at 12:19 PM PST - 9 comments

I am looking to export an entire playlist to one .wav file. I am willing to download and install any software that is necessary to do so. [more inside]posted by lukeomalley at 12:03 PM PST - 6 comments

Can I use broken chunks of brick in place of gravel for landscape drainage? I don't have access to gravel right now but I have some old bricks and I need to make a small ditch next to a house drain well. [more inside]posted by cda at 12:01 PM PST - 3 comments

We need a new e-mail server for our (very) small, growing company. Who do you recommend that could set up our service tomorrow, today, yesterday? [more inside]posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:49 AM PST - 19 comments

I'd like to move my blog from Drupal to Wordpress. Is there a program out there that can help and automate the process or am I going to have to physically cut and paste about 700 entries? posted by tozturk at 11:31 AM PST - 2 comments

What women's fashion magazine do you like and feel is worth the cost? Or failing that, which ones don't make you hate yourself for buying them? [more inside]posted by orange swan at 11:21 AM PST - 51 comments

We're two recent grad-school graduates on a budget, travelling to Portland and Seattle in a couple of weeks. Any recommendations for relatively inexpensive hotels in both cities? (Previous Seattle questions have brought up the Moore Hotel, but in case they're booked, any alternative suggestions?) Thanks! posted by hazelshade at 10:14 AM PST - 7 comments

I'll be in Tempe, AZ for a week on business in late October and I get the weekend to myself. What would you see if you had two days and two nights to yourself in the area? [more inside]posted by saraswati at 8:52 AM PST - 15 comments

I work for a small print and web design firm. We have clients all over the world and, while someone generally meets a client in person, it isn't always possible to present designs in person every time. I suggested creating a web site to handle this. When I made the suggestion I was thinking of Gallery, a program I haven't used in three years. Before I go further with development of this project, I thought I'd ask if anyone here had found an off the shelf solution to meet most or all of our needs. You'll find these points and [more inside]posted by Grod at 8:37 AM PST - 12 comments

You know those "Speed Checked By Aircraft" highway signs? I always use those as guide to knowing when there are no cops around whatsoever. But it got me to thinking: if there were in fact such aircraft COULD they check our car speed with radar? Is such a thing even possible? posted by rileyray3000 at 8:37 AM PST - 28 comments

I find myself often having to look up several lists of names in a database. I would like to automate the process, but the problem is I'm usually given a nickname or variant on a person's full name (i.e. I'm given "Jim" and the name is "James" in the database). [more inside]posted by zixyer at 8:33 AM PST - 5 comments

The hinge on my 2 + year old PowerBook is broken. Is it worth sending it out to be repaired (and does anybody have a recommendation for a reputable company to do the repair), or should I just buy a new one? [more inside]posted by willnot at 7:19 AM PST - 9 comments

DigitalPhotoFilter: I'm really bad for remembering when I took certain pictures so I need to batch rename a bunch of photos using the date and time EXIF info. Is there an easy way to do this on a Windows XP machine? [more inside]posted by ChazB at 6:58 AM PST - 9 comments

I have recently started a new job in charge of IT in a small lab <10 people. A while back the lab was badly hacked into and data etc. was lost (there is evidence this was an inside job btw). As part of my remit I am in charge of making sure this doesn't happen again.
The company has a site license for anti-virus software so that is not an issue however we currently have no anti-spyware, personal firewall or rootkit / trojan detector etc.
What I'm looking for is one or more products which I can install on the user's workstations which are effective in these areas. The most important point apart from actually working of course is that I can centrally administer the software and monitor what is going on - edit firewall rules etc.
So what products would you recommend that might satisfy these requirements. Oh yeah all users including myself are running Windows XP so cross platform is not a problem. posted by empedia at 6:37 AM PST - 6 comments

I manage a Language Lab at a University and our satellite programming is on the fritz. As an alternative while we get a new system purchased I wondered if there was any online television programming in Spanish. [more inside]posted by genial at 6:11 AM PST - 4 comments

Does anybody know the name of the neurological disease which breaks the connections of your passive feeling nerves but still leaves you able to control your limbs? [more inside]posted by unrequited at 6:06 AM PST - 4 comments

My 20+ year old low end racing Trek bicycle is coming back to me. I need to restore it to working condition. I'm going to go to the bicycle kitchen to do the work but before I do that I'd like to read a bit. What books can a mechanically naive cyclist read to learn about tuning a bike? posted by rdr at 3:13 AM PST - 5 comments

The Pre-Socratic philosophers came up with a lot of theories on what primitive parts our world is made up of. What is it that makes these theories philosophy? Why aren't these guys called the Pre-Socratic physicists? [more inside]posted by cheerleaders_to_your_funeral at 3:00 AM PST - 13 comments

Tokaj/Tokaji. I'm buying a gift for some friends who are Tokaj afficionados, and would love some recommendations for excellent Tokaj wines (ideally Hungarian or Czech rather than French/Italian Tokay or Tocai wines). They prefer the sweeter wines (5+ puttonyos) and it would be swell if I could find a 2001 vintage, as it's a 5th anniversary gift. posted by judith at 10:39 PM PST - 9 comments

Help me find an old insightful email commentary (one that did the rounds on email) on the chauvinism of American network coverage of the Olympics in mid-90s. [more inside]posted by jak68 at 9:09 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm looking for the full text of an angry letter written by P.B. Shelley.
It's a scathing letter written by Shelley to the father of a lady-friend he had. Shelley's relationship with the woman was non-amorous, but her father, the proprietor of an inn and a brute of sorts, thought it was and prevented Shelley from seeing his daughter. This angered Shelley and provoked him to write the said letter.
The letter ended with a sentence like this: "Neither the laws of nature nor of England have made children Private Property". posted by ernestworthing at 8:30 PM PST - 7 comments

Thanks to a post on MeFi a while back, I have been using Cabos to download individual songs. I am looking for mostly 80s new wave and vintage, so Cabos worked out rather nicely. I obviously torrent, but I like to have something that can quickly grab songs here and there. Well, Cabos has been buggy for a while and seems to be having problems establishing and maintaining a connection to the respective networks. Any recommendations for alternative programs or methods? Thank you kindly. posted by ChaoticIndustry at 7:19 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for books dealing with usability for web and software applications. Not so much books that focus on coding or theory, but instead books that primarily relate to usability methods and the execution of usability studies [more inside]posted by |n$eCur3 at 6:44 PM PST - 12 comments

I have a question about the psychology and ethics of auctions. I have only participated in a handful of online auctions, but the other day I got caught up in an eBay auction that has got me thinking about the nature of auctions ... and curious about whether my actions were ethical. [more inside]posted by jayder at 5:09 PM PST - 32 comments

Inspired by the question about male power dynamics on the sidewalk, what similar interactions happen between women that men would be totally unaware of? [more inside]posted by twirlypen at 4:42 PM PST - 48 comments

I'm a big fan of the Ericsson interface, though my current phone (T637) is on its last legs. Sony has come out with a ton of great phones recently, all vast improvements on what I have, and almost none of which I afford. A few years ago, major wireless carriers could be counted on to heavily discount the newest latest freshest phones, especially Ericssons, and now only ONE carrier (Cingular) sells ANY of them, and they only have the two bottom-of-the-line models. Anyone have any advice or inside information before I bite the bullet and get the cheapo model? [more inside]posted by stuckie at 2:38 PM PST - 8 comments

I am using a program (MapInfo Professional) that doesn't have the keyboard mapped to control the scrollbars. I want to be able to use the keyboard to move a whole screen left or right, just like clicking on the scrollbar. (There is no option to enable this.) Is this possible? [more inside]posted by public at 1:43 PM PST - 2 comments

Last night on Boing Boing, I asked readers to help me remember the name of a kids' author. He wrote a series of children's stories from the mid-20th century. They were about a boy with a name that begins with the letter H (I think), and in each story, they boy had some kind of improbable adventure. It's not Harold (Purple Crayon kid) or Henry Huggins (Beverly Cleary), or Homer Price (I thought it was, but in the middle of the night I decided it wasn't). Who is it? [more inside]posted by ottomatik at 11:36 AM PST - 19 comments

I like to go to dark, smoky, dive bars and sit there with a drink and a book for hours. Unfortunately, I'm running out of good bar reading. Can you help me find more? Examples inside. [more inside]posted by dersins at 11:16 AM PST - 48 comments

I just found out I won a scholarship for a month-long research trip to Amsterdam (yay me). I'm planning to go in January or February 2007 and need help with 2 things:
1- Cheap, central, decent accomadations. My wife will be going with, so we need a private room and bathroom. A private room in a hostel would be fine. A private house would be better. I'm aware of craigslist amsterdam, but wonder if their are other resources/networks I could tap.
2- I know I don't have time to actually learn the language, but would like to pick up the basic getting around, ordering food stuff, and do not have the time or money to take formal classes. What good internet resources could help me learn basic dutch? posted by signal at 10:47 AM PST - 6 comments

Are Google ads a good use for my very limited advertising dollars? If not, what works? I'm trying to promote a small science museum and I need help primarily with online marketing. [more inside]posted by mygothlaundry at 10:13 AM PST - 12 comments

Can you think of any examples of "disjointed" writing -- writing with abrupt transitions -- that works? Faulkners Sound and Fury is a good example but shorter pieces are better for my purposes. Can be fiction or non-fiction. [more inside]posted by Aghast. at 9:57 AM PST - 17 comments

I need to find a cheaper way to get proscriptions for Lexapro and Ambien filled. Basically there are 3 options A) Drive to Mexico and hope I can get them across the border there B) Try to get it from one of those online Canadian Pharmacies C) Get Another Job and buy them here in the US. [more inside]posted by bigmusic at 9:01 AM PST - 23 comments

Do you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine, or do you know someone who does? Help a CPAP newbie who's having a rough ride by answering a few questions and/or giving advice. [more inside]posted by WCityMike at 8:49 AM PST - 24 comments

Portable DVD player, or video player, or custom-built Frankendevice, with VERY high-quality audio output?? Video quality doesn't matter (could even be b/w), but screen should be 8"+ and unit should be as lightweight as possible. For live concerts where I need to see video, just for my own reference, that's exactly in sync with my pre-recorded audio (so I would make DVDs or video files with my audio + the visuals I need). Laptop = expensive/heavy/overkill. posted by allterrainbrain at 1:40 AM PST - 5 comments

On the hunt for unique and odd US government offices (somewhat for entertainment, seriously for a job.) [Oh yes, there is somewhat more inside.] [more inside]posted by sperose at 1:14 AM PST - 10 comments

I have made an offer on a condo and it's been accepted. I'm in the contingency period and now is my chance to investigate/negotiate anything that might be a problem down the road. I'd like general advice on what to watch out for in a condo situation, and have included more specific details and questions inside. [more inside]posted by scarabic at 8:54 PM PST - 15 comments

Help-me-find-this-book: Series about 2 girls who get into adventures involving magic. I remember one where they had some kind of invisibility cloak and another where a forest grew inside one of the girls' rooms. They tried to keep the magic hidden from others. I remember reading these books in the mid 1970s. posted by mattholomew at 8:51 PM PST - 5 comments

In about a month I'm spending 2 weeks in Europe with my girlfriend. We'll be in Dublin, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Rome. Most of my research on these places mentions pickpocketing as being problematic (in some moreso than others)- what trademark methods should we watch out for and what are the best strategies for keeping our money safe? [more inside]posted by baphomet at 8:04 PM PST - 29 comments

I am interested in 1930's America, specifically, the political climate of the time and the lives of hobos and workin' folk. What books, fiction or nonfiction, could you suggest to broaden my knowledge about this era? posted by lazy robot at 5:31 PM PST - 20 comments

For a student of mine: Is it a good idea or a bad idea, on a law school application, to disclose past drug use and rehabilitation, sexual orientation, and family issues to explain why one has a problematic academic history? [more inside]posted by k8t at 5:05 PM PST - 27 comments

Police procedure filter: If you're a police officer (sworn, U.S. law enforcement), can you just run whatever license plates and/or I.D.s you want? Does it leave a paper trail of some sort? [more inside]posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:44 PM PST - 21 comments

Internet access at home comes and goes, but can be resolved by resetting (powering on/off) the cable modem. Sometimes has to be done once a day, sometimes once every 30mins. No obvious pattern. What could be causing this? [more inside]posted by modernnomad at 4:23 PM PST - 15 comments

Okay, so I'm now at Uni and I have the internet in my room: However, I'd forgotten that they have a very stringent access policy: now mefites, can you help me set up Bittorent using SSH tunnels or equivalent? [more inside]posted by philsi at 3:03 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm asking for advice on which web applications you would recommend to a person wanting to start their own web-page. I am new to web-page design and want to get up and running on a simple web-page relatively quickly and easily. I'm not afraid of trying to create some of my own design as I know a little HTML and the bare basics of web design - CSS etc -- it's just I haven't used it in real life yet. My e-mail provider (runbox) provides free web-site hosting and I needed to buy a domain name which I did. I want to start my own web page for personal use on items such as pictures, surveys or polls, blogs, discussions etc. My domain provider uses the following applications and I'm asking for advice on which applications a new user, relatively green on the tech side, should use. See below for the list of supplied web applications (if that is what you call them). [more inside]posted by orlin at 2:26 PM PST - 11 comments

I have a friend who is turning 64 this week, and I would like to get her 64 "units" of something, but I am kind of at a loss as to the "what" of it. I need it to be relatively inexpensive, ( say under $50 total) and "original" i.e. not chocolates or flowers. I have thought of several ideas, but each is either flawed somehow ( fruit for example: it would be too much quantity-wise and would likely go bad before she could eat it) or impossible to mail, which is the other criteria: it must be deliverable by either mail or courier by Friday. Any cool suggestions? posted by frizelli at 2:15 PM PST - 26 comments

Is there a link between deli-style pickles and grapefruits that both cause a baby's face to have a skin allergy? Do they share any traits or ingredients that would have that reaction? Are their juices too acidic/basic? posted by fijiwriter at 2:04 PM PST - 6 comments

I am looking for a calendar plugin for WordPress. All of the calendar plugins I've been trying do not offer the infuriatingly simple feature of showing the event information in the same table cell as the day it is on. This is all I want, like it looks here. Any ideas? posted by delladlux at 2:04 PM PST - 0 comments

I'm having issues playing back music. It all has to do with the left or right channel being washed out: Sometimes the lead vocals or lead guitar from a radio signal isn't heard, sometimes its the same for listening through an ipod with headphones and through a computer with headphones. There is a bit > [more inside]posted by premortem at 2:04 PM PST - 7 comments

Where did the phrase "the shit hit the fan" originate from? My googling has revealed one claim that it is from 1930's jazz lingo, although no explanantion is given as to what it meant at the time, and another site gives a story that describes the origin that doesn't seem believable. (the last paragraph here: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=shit
Does anyone know where the phrase came from?
Thanks! posted by andoatnp at 1:57 PM PST - 11 comments

Is there a word to describe a person who repeatedly becomes convinced that someone else is sick with various obscure ailments, based on flimsy or imagined evidence? [more inside]posted by jessicapierce at 1:43 PM PST - 14 comments

You know those little icons for digg, delicious, reddit, etc. that are appearing on blogs and websites practically everywhere now? Which site has the most in a row? Or: What site caters to the most types of social tagging software? [more inside]posted by mattbucher at 1:43 PM PST - 5 comments

PoisonousGasFilter: So, I was cleaning my bathroom at school, and I noticed some really nasty blood stains from the previous occupant. I tried using a bleach/water solution to get them out, and when that didn't work, I tried pure bleach. Too much pure bleach. Like enough to make the whole floor smell like the pool. I've already dried it up, and the windows and fans are open and on... but the smell persists, and I feel dizzy. What else can I do to neutralize the smell of bleach? What is the health risk from inhaling this quantity of bleach fumes? Does anyone have suggestions for getting this blood out that don't involve me getting out as well? posted by fvox13 at 1:26 PM PST - 12 comments

My girlfriend and I miss the countryside of upstate New York where we went to school. Specifically, we long for the region's excellent, home-made, freshly pressed, piping hot, unpasteurized [!] apple cider. We're now in New York City looking for that wonderfully nostalgic autumn taste. Where should we go? posted by themadjuggler at 12:23 PM PST - 15 comments

Increasingly, my fiancee and I have become distant in our ideological views. I realize that this is likely to happen in any relationship as people age but I still feel rather strongly about some of these issues (as she did early on in our relationship) and I don't appreciate the increasing pressure from her and her family to "grow-up". How common is this situation? And, if so, is there any advice you can offer to work through the problems? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:09 PM PST - 69 comments

I'm looking for short jokes, riddles, tongue twisters, or funny sayings about each month of the year. Think "April showers bring May flowers, so what do Mayflowers bring?" Anyone have more? [more inside]posted by Soliloquy at 10:13 AM PST - 17 comments

Hieronymous Bosch - Filter: I saw a painting in the Mimara museum in Zagreb which claims to be The Temptation of St. Anthony by Bosch. But...I suspect its a fake... [more inside]posted by vacapinta at 10:07 AM PST - 4 comments

I have searched online, and been to 2 different hardware stores, including one with an extensive lock collection, and no one seems to have anything available. The door is 2 1/4" thick, and most lock hardware is for doors 1 1/2-1 3/4" thick.
Any suggestions? posted by getupandgo at 9:41 AM PST - 6 comments

Nike + iPod Sport Kit, transmitter hacked into the tongue of my New Balance shoes: I run the same 4 mile route every time, but occasionally my pace is WAY off. Yesterday it read 3.19 miles at the end of my run, and I took a look at the transmitter to see that it was sideways inside the tongue. Is that why? [more inside]posted by bradn at 9:21 AM PST - 5 comments

A friend is dealing with the chronic illness of an elderly parent. Currently, insurance is paying for a home health aide to come in four hours a day during the week, but the family really needs to have some help on weekends, too. [more inside]posted by kimdog at 8:49 AM PST - 2 comments

GPS with extremely large memory? I'm looking for something pretty much exactly like the Sony GPS-CS1 (reviewed here )... but that will allow me to download the data to a Mac when I'm done. (Though the GPS-CS1 mounts as a regular drive on a PC, it won't on a Mac...) [more inside]posted by dmd at 8:29 AM PST - 3 comments

How does one find, and choose, a designer or company to build a website? What companies (in Seattle) can you recommend? I have a friend who has a medium sized business in Seattle. He has a budget of $20,000 to $50,000 to build an Internet presence. He has no clue what to do or where to start. [more inside]posted by limitedpie at 8:12 AM PST - 13 comments

What's the real story with using health insurance for mental health services, related privacy issues, and how it affects one's ability to get insurance coverage in the future? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:08 AM PST - 13 comments

Somewhat of a follow-up to a previous question about my grandfather, I have some vague questions about law enforcement and the mental health system in 1950s America. [more inside]posted by bondcliff at 8:07 AM PST - 12 comments

I've seen a fairly frequent amount of letters to the editor of our local paper about protecting children from pedophiles and heard in the news with increasing frequency about child sex offenders, so I was wondering.. [more inside]posted by vanoakenfold at 7:59 AM PST - 33 comments

This intermittent fault on our small company network makes me bang my head on the wall. Metafilter: help me troubleshoot this annoyance.
Roughly once a day at no particular time I get the classic windows 'A network cable is unplugged' balloon appear on my desktop. About 50% of the time, this affects the rest of the 20-odd staff in the office and at least one person will lose some work due to application failure or somesuch. [more inside]posted by whoojemaflip at 6:51 AM PST - 18 comments

My work blocks everything but port 80 outgoing. O Hoardes, give me a variety of good high-bitrate radio stations on that port! Or, explain how I can relay radio stations on other ports to my work using my home DSL computer or something! posted by riotgrrl69 at 5:25 AM PST - 20 comments

I have an issue with Firefox as of late. Firefox will not load a single site on my computer, but Interner Explorer 7 will work just fine. I have a portable Firefox on my flash drive which loads just fine, but it does not make sense any the Firefox that is installed on my machine does not work. [more inside]posted by cheero at 5:22 AM PST - 14 comments

Linux / Ubuntu / Gnome question - how do I tell Gnome "Hey, the jpg you're using as desktop wallpaper has been updated with a new image. Go reload it and display the new version?" in a Python or Bash script? [more inside]posted by Jimbob at 3:18 AM PST - 6 comments

Does anyone know any techniques for creating new habits.
I find it fraustrating that the habits I do have and don't want, are hard to break, and the habits I want are hard to establish.
Thanks [more inside]posted by matholio at 3:05 AM PST - 11 comments

You're a time traveling tourist from our near future, visiting our present day world. While here, you take a picture with a digital camera, and you plan to post the JPEG file on some web site for your buddies in the future to admire. Is it possible to encrypt or encode the file in such a way so that both your identity and the time it was encoded can be verified by your buddies in the future? [more inside]posted by jaimev at 10:28 PM PST - 27 comments

Help me identify an oldish animated short! ! I believe it was black and white or sepia toned, but more modern than that suggests--maybe the 80s. It was 4-5 five men on a square plane in the middle of a nothingness and they had to work together in order to balance the four corners of plane, so that it didn't tip and drop them all into the void. Slowly, however, each man became greedy and wanted the others off the plane so that he could have it to himself. Each one eventually dropped off until only one remained...and...? i CANNOT remember the ending! argh [more inside]posted by bienbiensuper at 9:27 PM PST - 9 comments

My son has an apartment in San Francisco. He works in Marin and uses our(his parents) address for stuff. He also spends time at our house.Is it ok for him to use our address for his car insurance or must he use his rented address(which would also cost more)? posted by ellke at 9:14 PM PST - 12 comments

Could Andy Warhol do his art today or would he be sued to from here to Pluto for copyright infringement? I'm talking specifically about his silkscreen paintings where he used source imagery by others (Elvis, Marilyn, the disaster series, etc.) [more inside]posted by extrabox at 8:33 PM PST - 5 comments

I have been told by many (including boss) I need to take a vacation...so I am looking for somewhere to go this wknd...within a 3-4 hr drive of DC area where I can relax and not spend a ton of cash either. I am a 30-something female who likes a little bit of everything (not a nature nut, but I appreciate it, same with museums.) [more inside]posted by psususe at 8:28 PM PST - 13 comments

In the 1942 movie, Bette Davis is transformed from an old maid to a glamorous woman through pyschotherapy. In one romantic scene with Paul Henreid, she is wearing a veil, and then proceeds to, I think, smoke a cigarette and kiss him, all without lifting her veil. Was this the fashion back then--to do everything without lifting one's veil? Did this include eating? posted by quintno at 8:00 PM PST - 2 comments

Our landlords didn't give us the full security deposit and now that the hearing date is approaching, they offered to finally pay it to us in full. Should we or shouldn't we accept their offer? You just know that there is much... [more inside]posted by Diskeater at 7:34 PM PST - 34 comments

Living in Lake Tahoe(!) My sister-in-law has a chance to live out in Lake Tahoe for the ski season. She'll be working, either on a mountain or off, but she doesn't have a job lined up yet. My question (after a chat with her) is about where she might want to live. Been to Tahoe? Lived there? Help a recent college grad have a blast. [more inside]posted by zpousman at 7:12 PM PST - 9 comments

What are the pros/cons of working for Aflac?
I was recently recruited for one of their sales/representative positions. Does anyone out there have any experience either working for the company or as a policy holder? Good/bad? Is this a telemarketing thing?
I have not accepted the position yet or started their training process.
I need the meta to help me. . . posted by whimsicalnymph at 6:54 PM PST - 9 comments

I shall walk into the wild maybe for a week or so, depending on the weather, blisters, etc.
Who has recommendations for (relatively safe) *long* solitary walks in the U.S. or Canada?
Specifically, I'm looking for a hike/trail/path that I can follow -- walking 7-10 hours a day, for 5-7 days in a row. No cell phone, no computer, no schedule.
This would be a sort of annual retreat/walk/vacation/time-to-reset-my-body, that I'd like to do every year. Time to think, lose a few pounds, kick-up my metabolism, detox, chill out, regroup, spiritually recharge, etc.
Assuming I don't want to carry a gun into the wild (to protect against critters or humans), where are some interesting, safe destinations???
I'm not a survivalist and I'm not looking for an adventure per se. Prefer a minimum of life-threatening hazards and/or 100+ degree temperatures or freezing nights. posted by pallen123 at 6:25 PM PST - 23 comments

My boyfriend is really confused about American beer. He's banned from this site but he still reads it sometimes, so please give us some advice. [more inside]posted by thirteenkiller at 5:02 PM PST - 62 comments

Our 6 month old golden retriever is a lovely girl, smart, active and generally pretty obedient. But, her one difficult behavior is intense dominance wrestling with our 14 year old lab. Nobody gets hurt, but Doc, the 14 year old, clearly gets fed-up and Daisy, the baby, seems to find it irresistible. She puts her mouth on his ears, neck, feet - not biting, but
annoying. I want her to stop, so that we can all be together without having to separate them. When we're out walking or running them, or when Daisy is in a calm mood, they're great together. On the other side of the equation, Doc, who usually couldn't care less about toys, will take one or two and just lie there with them in his mouth or between his paws and it drives Daisy crazy! I'm sure these are natural dominance games, but I want to be able to control them better. Any ideas? Will all this tend to stop as she
grows up? posted by madstop1 at 4:45 PM PST - 7 comments

Me and mine are moving in together. How do 2 single wage earners merge their $$ incomes and outflows in a way that keeps it simple for bookkeeping and tax returns? [More] [more inside]posted by Fupped Duck at 4:03 PM PST - 21 comments

I'm Looking for a simple windows-based web server monitoring tool (preferably free) that can sit and run (as a service would be nice) and ping a remote website at a pre-determined interval and just fire off an e-mail notification if it does not get a response. I checked out IPCheck but it does way more than I need. Any suggestions? posted by RedMosquito at 2:48 PM PST - 5 comments

While walking back to my house a little while ago, I found what looks like a ~2 carat round cut clear stone on the sidewalk. Is it a diamond? [more inside]posted by pyjammy at 2:46 PM PST - 20 comments

Science Fiction Story Identification: Protagonists are in an endless maze of hallways that connect different worlds. There are evenly-spaced new doors. They are trying to get back to Earth, but can't find it. Some characters will decide to stay on 'good enough' worlds - one was like earth but with a fractured moon, I think. [more inside]posted by sohcahtoa at 1:25 PM PST - 13 comments

I have an awesome idea for a non-fiction adventure-type book that would require a small, but not insignificant amount of capital. Is it even worth my time to pitch this to a company, what sort should I approach and how would I go about doing it? posted by borkingchikapa at 1:10 PM PST - 7 comments

I am living in Spain and would like to order clothes from online stores in USA and the US version of eBay. How much can I order for without risking to pay any tax or/and import "fees"? posted by toreo at 1:01 PM PST - 6 comments

Me, my wife, and our 2 sons (3 and 6) need a peaceful, pleasant, and somewhat inexpensive place to stay for 3 days or so near Auckland, NZ. We will have a rental car. Got any suggestions? (Bonus - what's not to be missed with kids, 'round Auckland, Wellington, and Nelson areas?) [more inside]posted by chr1sb0y at 12:52 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm looking for recent statistics on the voting rate of Asian communities and/or Muslim communities in Britain. Broken down by country (Scotland, England, Wales) would be great. Exit poll type info of which parties they vote for would be great. posted by By The Grace of God at 12:28 PM PST - 1 comment

I just recently purchased some SK-II cosmetics for my mom for her birthday but recent stories in Chinese newspapers indicate that the products may contain traces of chromium and neodymium which are known to cause cancer.
Is this just fear-mongering by a competitor brand with backing by the Chinese government or should I be bringing the product back to where I bought it and asking for a refund? posted by PWA_BadBoy at 12:15 PM PST - 3 comments

Canada Labor Law: wrongfull dismissal - suing, what can I expect?
I have a very strong case for my end of employment a few weeks ago. I was dismissed with clearly no reasonable cause.
The law firm I am working with has sent my former employer a certified letter, first step in my case. I was given only one week salary at my dismissal.
This employer came to get me from at my previous job, bonified my first refusal and I accepted the second offer.
I had been working at this previous job for more then 3 years.
There are many missing details here for anyone to accurately comment and I realize that.
I am looking for the steps I should expect in this legal battle as this employer received the certified letter signed by the law firm sent last week and has not responded. He is basically ignoring my lawyerrs request for compensation on my behalf. What should I expect? posted by sandrapbrady at 11:55 AM PST - 11 comments

What do you recommend to get rid of razor bumps? Products, shaving techniques, whatever. We're talking about shaving a face here, although I am under the impression it's the same issue with legs/pits. posted by kavasa at 11:53 AM PST - 21 comments

I get really, really nauseous when I'm in the same room as my ioniser/ air filter and it's turned on. The sick feeling goes away as soon as the machine is turned off. Why? posted by goo at 11:04 AM PST - 17 comments

I'm thinking of volunteering for a drug trial at Guy's Drug Research Unit in London -- it's the one run by this company that's been advertising in all the free papers recently. It's testing a new flu vaccine, and a quick chat with them tells me that I'll get around £3,000 for taking part. My question is, 'elephant men' aside, what's the real story? [more inside]posted by reklaw at 10:38 AM PST - 17 comments

I am considering the online purchase of some Le Coq Sportif shoes. Undortunately there is no where in Santa Fe where i can try some on first, so I can find my size. For instance, I wear an 11 in new balances but a 10 in mephistos. Are there any websites that compare shoe fit by brand? Or does anyone have info on the fit of Le Coq Sportif? thanks posted by MNDZ at 10:37 AM PST - 3 comments

I just discovered that my math professor is recycling homework assignments verbatim from prior years. I have a friend that took the course a couple years ago, and has all the answer keys. Is it ethical for me to use them? [more inside]posted by jtfowl0 at 10:36 AM PST - 93 comments

Is there any way I can figure out how a Web site is classified by different Web filtering services and systems? If they classify it incorrectly, is it difficult to make my case and get the classification changed? [more inside]posted by elmwood at 10:26 AM PST - 7 comments

Sell my house, quit work, travel? Is this something I should seriously consider? Who has done this, how did it go? Do you know others who have and it turned into a huge mistake? [more inside]posted by killyb at 9:13 AM PST - 30 comments

so i'm "borrowing" a wireless connection from my neighbors... after having done this with no problems for almost four months, it's now become a pattern that every fifteen minutes i have to repair my connection using winXP's "repair" function. this works great until i have to do it again. what gives? [more inside]posted by yonation at 9:00 AM PST - 13 comments

Are there any cultures that don't anthropomorphize animals and other things (living or otherwise) in their myths, legends, folktales, etc.? Is this a universal thing? And if it is universal, are there any layman accessible books or articles on why? posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:38 AM PST - 20 comments

The guy over my cube wall is over dosing his body on some bad deodorant and it's whiggin' me out all day long. Any suggestions on how to breathe normally again short of using respirators and other obnoxiously strong smells? posted by unmodern at 7:35 AM PST - 14 comments

My wife says I never order digital prints. Is there a way to have a folder that I can put photos into, and at the end of say, every month, uploads and orders them to be shipped to me by a service like snapfish or winkflash? posted by jkh2828 at 7:31 AM PST - 2 comments

HELP! My computer is connected to the internet, but the browsers (I.E., Firefox) will not open and websites!? I know I'm connected because my google-talk thing is updating my incoming mail in the toolbar (and my LAN is showing connected). I have restarted my computer a few times to no avail. What to do? posted by curiocity at 6:49 AM PST - 9 comments

I have close to 3000 files in Corel WordPerfect 11 that I need to switch to a program that I can use in Mac. I'd prefer a simple txt file, but Word will do if it must. Given that my Mac cannot open the original file, I need a script or something that will work in Windows. [more inside]posted by cg1 at 6:08 AM PST - 2 comments

how possible/ difficult would it be to link two or more monitors to the same tower and be able to have different users working on the same system from different monitors? better asked, could you use some sort of log in system for windows xp which would enable multiple users to use the same system from different areas, having separate files, programs, etc.? posted by localhuman at 5:00 AM PST - 14 comments

Can anyone name this tune? (MP3 file) This is my primitive recreation of a song I heard the other day. More information about the context inside. [more inside]posted by mmoncur at 2:14 AM PST - 6 comments

As of two weeks ago, my (entirely legal) Soulseek downloads won't go any faster than exactly 4.1 k/s. If I download more than one file at a time, they'll each go at 2 k/s; four at a time go at 1 k/s each; any more than that and they all fail. My internet is otherwise speedy and the relevant ports are forwarded. Why is this happening to me? What have I done wrong? posted by stammer at 9:30 PM PST - 6 comments

In OS X, if you select a series of files in a folder and paste them into a text editor (say, BBEdit) the order of the filenames seems completely random. Why doesn't it just paste a list of the filenames in the order in which they appear in the folder (or in the order they were selected)? And is there any way to get this result using the Finder (i.e. without going into Terminal and using ls)? posted by gwint at 8:39 PM PST - 9 comments

Why can't a community use tax $ to put up a single large television mast antenna and allow, say, the 100 highest bidding networks to broadcast, all from that same tower? [more inside]posted by washburn at 8:31 PM PST - 20 comments

Any recomendations for a blog/space service good for artists who want to showcase their paintings - something like the "music" category on myspace? [more inside]posted by CynicalKnight at 8:12 PM PST - 4 comments

[SoCalShoppingFilter] I'm a broke grad student, and I need some new clothes, and am looking for good stores in the SoCal area. Some specifics... [more inside]posted by HighTechUnderpants at 7:51 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a place, preferably in New Jersey or surrounding (Philly, NYC count), where a quite lovely young woman can get 40's and 50's style pinup photos done. Both dressed and not-so.
Any guidance? posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 6:20 PM PST - 3 comments

My new lover is one of those lovely geeks. He’s never had a girlfriend. He has no frame of reference for the odd sexual awkwardness, the occasional times of coolness, the unapologetic want to be alone. I’ve had lovers and know this can be worked through, but he doesn’t. Do any former geeks have advice? [more inside]posted by goofyfoot at 5:44 PM PST - 42 comments

I am interested in using resitance bands for strength training. I'd like to be able to put on mass rather than just tone. Any advice or product recomendations? [more inside]posted by I Foody at 4:28 PM PST - 10 comments

Does anyone happen to know how to find an electronic version of Title 18 Chapter 3 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations? Damn that DC, only certain titles of the DCMR have been made available online (apparently for the simple reason that DC can't muster the staff to put them all online, bleah). I'm hunting for the actual law that establishes DC's driving infraction point system, something that's apparently codified in said Title 18 Chapter 3, and would love to get a version of the law that I can keep archived on my computer!
(Apparently, the entirety of the DCMR is available on Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw, but non-law peons like myself don't get the benefit of this. Double bleah.)posted by delfuego at 4:15 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for a good, cross-platform chat client that I can run on a Mac, and my S.O. can run on a Win2K box on which he's not allowed to install software? e.g., something he can run from a USB drive? We're currently using google talk, but want something with more functionality. posted by stonerose at 2:17 PM PST - 7 comments

Looking for a decent online storage option, someplace that i can automatically back up and keep updated my entire hard drive and won't cost me an arm and a leg. I've googled but there seem to be a zillion sites, and wondered if anyone has any particular one to recommend over another? Thanks! posted by america4 at 1:31 PM PST - 15 comments

Glass globe for my room's ceiling light was crusty and bug-filled -- unscrewed it and put it away for a temporary fix! What options do I have for covering the ugly bare light bulb? [more inside]posted by milkdropcoronet at 10:10 AM PST - 18 comments

Are their any competitors to Airfoil for Mac? I like the program and can't find anything else, but want to make sure I'm not missing something cheaper and/or better b/f I shell out 25 bucks. Thanks. posted by gregoryc at 10:08 AM PST - 3 comments

I'm trying to find a place that I found a few weeks back. it's a social networking site, but designed around building music. It has a "sequencer" built into the website, and people can jointly build music on it.
Anyone point me in the right direction? posted by wflanagan at 8:42 AM PST - 2 comments

LongDistanceFilter: Ok, well technically we're broken up but its purely for strategic reasons. But we both believe that we both have serious long term potencial, the only problem is that circumstances are against us. [more inside]posted by apfel at 7:02 AM PST - 18 comments

What are the basics of a well-rounded self-education? I've always been the kind of person who immerses herself in a topic when I get an interest, but I feel like there are HUGE gaps in my basic knowledge. Of course, the nature of gaps is that I'm not exactly sure with what to fill them! [more inside]posted by polexxia at 5:51 AM PST - 29 comments

Will I be at any disadvantage if I buy the most basic of the Macbooks? What would I NOT be able to do that I might have to do? This would be my first laptop, I'm on a limited budget (less than $1300), and I live both inside and outside the United States, so I have a few (sub-)questions. [more inside]posted by mdonley at 12:41 AM PST - 17 comments

These photos will populate my local database with photos of people for a dating site (this is just for dev purposes, a work in progress).
I thought I'd write something to scrape them off hotornot.com or something similar, but perhaps there's an easier route (for free)? posted by masymas at 9:41 PM PST - 6 comments

What are some tips for moderating one's drinking? I love to drink two, sometimes three, times a week, and it's a positive experience for me when I keep it moderate. For me, moderate = no more than three mixed drinks, no more than half a bottle of wine, no more than three beers. My problem (duh) is that sometimes when I get started I keep drinking. [more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:47 PM PST - 17 comments

Let's say I have a nice big list of URLs, and I want to capture thumbnail images of the page at each one. Can you recommend software to do this? Commercial product, open source, programming module, anything. posted by gimonca at 4:43 PM PST - 4 comments

In terms of providing an accurate representation of how things actually appear in real life, is there any scientific data to suggest whether a mirror or a photograph provides the more realistic image? [more inside]posted by The Gooch at 4:34 PM PST - 11 comments

Has anyone seen the Cadillac DTS TV commerical in which the four young hip guys pull up to a diner? Am I insane, or is that Adrian Grenier from Entourage and Joaquin Phoenix in the commercial? posted by alexg23 at 4:13 PM PST - 11 comments

San Francisco/Los Angeles: I'm interested in a ring from Niwaka. Unfortunately we'd have to fly to Kyoto or New York to try it. Is there anywhere in SF with similar designs? I've already been to the jewelry mart on 8th and Brannan and a few shops on Union. I'll be in LA next week, so that's an option too. Thanks. posted by Señor Pantalones at 2:19 PM PST - 2 comments

Help me track down images from, or if possible a video link to, a Saturday-morning cartoon-type in heavy rotation in the 50s that I remember zoning to: The growth of farm plant-foods depicted as a kind of underground assembly-line process, maybe assisted by some gnomish creature-lings, shown as lots of happy rhythmic mechanical activity leading to swelling carrots, filled-up pea-pods, etc., all over a classical music track... Ring any bells, boomers? posted by dpcoffin at 10:43 AM PST - 11 comments

Do juices of fruits or vegetables count as part the daily recommmended intake for vegetables or juices? What is better about actually eating the fruit / vegetables? posted by vionnett at 9:45 AM PST - 27 comments

I'm looking for online examples of major newspapers (from cities with a population of, say, 100,000+) that have published a special blog or column featuring dispatches from someone traveling around the world or to a different country--like the NY Times did with Frugal Traveler on the Road. [more inside]posted by nitsuj at 9:31 AM PST - 5 comments

im about to undertake the task of organising my mp3 collection and would like to ask for advice / suggestions on what is the best approach to adopt with regards to organisation within harddisk / itunes / ipod [more inside]posted by toocan at 9:09 AM PST - 24 comments

Which department store makeup counter will provide me with the best makeup tips and tools? I need some serious help, but I'm not trying to look like a clown. [more inside]posted by sarahsynonymous at 8:16 AM PST - 28 comments

I am in my first serious relationship in my 30s, and am no catch - overweight, balding, and impotent (what a winning combination). My girlfriend is also my best friend, she is a virgin and the lack of sex she can live with (perhaps it's true that you don't miss what you never had). However I'm not sure if we should be boyfriend and girlfriend or just friends. I enjoy the companship and the cuddles but miss the independance of being single, and don't really feel any physical attraction for her and never have. I am wondering if I am "settling" which I always read that I should never do, however I am really not much of a catch for the reasons above (although I am kind, caring, and a good friend) so perhaps this is as good as it gets? Without going into personal details, can anyone relate or advise? We have been going out for three years now and she speaks hopefully of the future and of moving in with me, but much as my life would be simpler if I was able to love her the way she wants what I feel is more like strong caring, friendship and deep companionship. Since I have so little relationship experience, should I stay single or try to find a way to create some romantic feelings for me? posted by anonymous at 7:34 AM PST - 22 comments

I have an Epic faucet that's never been used. The company hasn't existed in 12 years (it was a Delta company, but they can't help me). The box is missing a mixing tee that would connect the hot/cold hoses to the central spout, so right now all I have is a few chunks of metal that vaguely resemble a nice faucet. The difficulty in building a tee to match is that the pipe coming down from the spout seems to be proprietary: it's not quite 3/8" pipe, and it's not quite 1/2" compression (but it's very close). How can I create a custom fitting to match what I need? Is there anyone in NYC that can machine a part like this at a reasonable price? Could a piece that would marry up to it somehow be cast from the thread? I recognize it's a longshot and a waste of time and energy, but I really want to use this fixture. posted by thejoshu at 7:01 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm trying to remember the name of a movie from the 70s or 80s which featured a woman who met up on a ski slope with an amputee gentleman (please pardon if that is not the correct term); he skied with one ski, and had a line, "Even bad sex is still pretty good" which he delivered with a French accent posted by mikebailey at 4:32 AM PST - 4 comments

I've got a MacBook Pro that currently has Max OS X 10.4.7 installed on a single partition (no boot camp). I'd like to wipe the hard drive clean and reinstall OSX 10.4 from scratch, but I'm running into some issues. [more inside]posted by freshgroundpepper at 3:50 AM PST - 5 comments

September 22

I just bought a new 8gb ipod nano. I've got about 11gbs I want to shove onto the player. So, I'm thinking about stepping down the bit rates of my mp3s. How should I do it? [more inside]posted by bluejayk at 11:39 PM PST - 23 comments

I want to know what's going on when my mac is churning the HD, or becomes unresponsive due to apps loading, or doing maintenance. Does such an app exist? [more inside]posted by slater at 10:30 PM PST - 13 comments

Phone Sex tips? My SO thinks phone sex will help us remain close while he is out of town (consulting work) for the next few months. I have problems letting go under even the most ideal circumstances; the idea of phone sex seems awkward and uncomfortable. Any tips on how to make phone sex seem less awkward and more natural? To be honest, I kind of cringe at the thought of phone sex. Potentially relevant: it is still a newish relationship so there isn't an intense amount of emotional closeness yet. posted by anonymous at 10:05 PM PST - 24 comments

Small problems or worries that are nothing during daylight, seem huge and insurmoutable during the hours of darkness, bordering on paranoia. Is this some form of mild depression, or a SAD related thing? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:23 PM PST - 23 comments

When I was a kid, I read a science fiction book. I'd like now to find out what its name was, but, since I didn't read it in English, and it was about 20 years ago, I would have not a clue where to look. [more inside]posted by bokononito at 7:05 PM PST - 12 comments

MS Office question: How do I stop Powerpoint from using a single window to display all documents? I'd like to be able to look at two powerpoint files side by side and copy/paste between them, but powerpoint insists on opening them in the same window. [more inside]posted by chrisamiller at 6:12 PM PST - 17 comments

I am looking for a unified messaging service that would ideally provide fax (receive/send), voicemail, file storage, maybe email, ssl would be a big bonus. I've looked at several fax services, but they don't provide voicemail. I know there are many of these services available, but positive experiences and recommendations from Mefites would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance. BTW, $20 or under would be perfect. posted by Gerard Sorme at 4:02 PM PST - 4 comments

Looking for good dishes/recipes for me to make when I entertain guests at home, I am no emeril but by no means a novice either. Looking to start easy, so looking for 2-person lunch/dinner ideas. Appetizer, main course, dessert is ideal - cuisine no bar. bonus for presentation tips. Uh, Vegetarian only. Okay, GO. posted by cusecase at 3:52 PM PST - 8 comments

PhiladelphiaSocialFilter: What are my organization's choices for a decent place to have a banquet with good food and a decent social atmosphere? [more inside]posted by drkrdglo at 3:34 PM PST - 5 comments

My whole life, people have been telling me that my skin feels very hot to the touch. When I touch other people, they almost always feel cool to me. I am sensitive to heat, and I dehydrate and get sun stroke easily. I also tend not to sweat very much, which it has occurred to me might keep me from cooling down. But doctors have always found my body temperature to be normal. I doubt it affects my health, but I am curious as to why I might be like this. Any ideas? posted by walla at 3:05 PM PST - 11 comments

What would a child adopted from a foreign country at the age of five, and brought up as a Westerner, remember of their infancy, and mother tongue? [more inside]posted by unSane at 2:29 PM PST - 19 comments

the plastic netherparts under the engine of my jetta have finally fallen out, after some altercations with those concrete front-tire stops in parking lots. is it important for the future of the engine/mechanical bits to get these replaced? [more inside]posted by garfy3 at 1:51 PM PST - 13 comments

I got a touch up on a 3 month old tattoo yesterday. Today it is sort of bleeding ink. (I can press a white piece of paper to it after applying A+D ointment and get a print of the tattoo) Is this normal? It did not do this when I first got it done. posted by mustcatchmooseandsquirrel at 12:49 PM PST - 8 comments

A delicate Yorkshire Riesling, robust Canadian Cabernet? If global warming raises temperatures, an often mentioned consequence is the growing of wine grapes in the far North (for example the article in Slate today). Does this really follow? [more inside]posted by grahamwell at 12:45 PM PST - 13 comments

My SO and I are in Beijing 1-11 October, Shanghai 11-18. 1st-6th is taken up by travel and a conference, but vacation after that. Help us have an awesome vacation... [more inside]posted by juliewhite at 12:21 PM PST - 11 comments

How can I fix dead lines on the screen of a Canon Wordtank IDF-3000 electronic dictionary? Or, can you suggest an affordable (sub-$120) kanji-enabled Japanese-English electronic dictionary as a replacement? [more inside]posted by vorfeed at 12:10 PM PST - 5 comments

JobInterviewFilter: Should you or should you not take a pad of paper with you to the interview? If so, should you use it for any of the following purposes (inside)? [more inside]posted by pricklypear at 11:20 AM PST - 26 comments

Help me muffle (or eliminate) the sound escaping from my badly-hung door so that my roommates are less likely to figure out what sort of shenanigans I'm up to in my room... [more inside]posted by dorothy humbird at 11:08 AM PST - 17 comments

A dedicated Fedora Plesk server has been set up for me at a hosting company, and as a site admin I'm not sure what to do next. Is there a good guide or tutorial anywhere that will get me up to speed on preparing a dedicated server for a website that uses PHP and mysql? Will I have to install Apache? Are those programs normally installed by default with run-of-the-mill dedicated hosting? This company's documentation is scarce and I think I'm in over my head. posted by rolypolyman at 11:05 AM PST - 4 comments

Any good locally owned restaurants in Loveland Colorado? Good (but not necessarily healthy) breakfast joints and good dinner spots with both meaty and veggie options are what we're looking for. [more inside]posted by pwb503 at 10:00 AM PST - 2 comments

I've been asked to give music lessons to a young blind boy. He has been blind since birth, and he is a music fanatic. Please help me figure out the best approach to take in teaching him about music. [more inside]posted by davey_darling at 8:27 AM PST - 21 comments

My significant other revealed to me that he was sexually abused as a little boy by a friend of his, who was also a boy. The incident, without describing it in detail, was one of sexual humiliation. The shame and suffering he now feels is immense and has carried over into other areas of his life, including his relationships. He told me what had happenned because I knew something was wrong and pressed him. We are now college-age (and in college too) and he had never told anyone before me. I have said to him that many other people have been sexually abused and have learned to accept their past, but I have said this without knowing if it's really true. Because of the problems caused by the event and other events that followed, I have broken up with him but am serious about being with him after he takes care of himself in therapy. Does anyone have insight on the possibility of moving forward after such a traumatizing event? posted by anonymous at 8:25 AM PST - 21 comments

My wife and I just moved to London, and will be here for at least two years. We are trying to make it feel like home; and there are a lot of things that can make a place feel like home ... or make it feel like a strange new country. I have many specific questions, and also welcome general advice pertaining to life in London. [more inside]posted by louigi at 6:43 AM PST - 33 comments

MemeFilter: What is the origin of the "I am in ur [something], [doing something]" meme? It usually uses JeffK-esque spelling ("ur", and a lot of z-endings). Some examples inside. [more inside]posted by Plutor at 6:09 AM PST - 16 comments

Last night a friend remarked that I have beautiful hands. I have heard that before from many people. Inspired by vodka, the two of us decided that my lifetime calling is to become a hand model... [more inside]posted by barrakuda at 5:55 AM PST - 9 comments

I want to perform my solo music project live and I'd like suggestions on how to do it. My music involves a keyboard, guitar, drum loops, multiple vocal tracks and random sound effects. [more inside]posted by pollystark at 5:54 AM PST - 7 comments

Our cell phones don't get coverage in our new home. Can I get out of my contract, and how do I find out who had coverage for our street/area? [more inside]posted by mgarnhum at 4:37 AM PST - 18 comments

September 21

Currency Exchange: I have a handful of Japanese Yen and a desire the British pound wasn't so strong. What are my best options for getting my Yen converted into Sterling? [more inside]posted by 0bvious at 11:35 PM PST - 6 comments

Flat broke-need a part time job filter. It's been a rough year financially, I'm thinking about getting a part time job to make the ends meet. Just a bit..... [more inside]posted by snsranch at 9:47 PM PST - 16 comments

I need to ship a few large boxes of clothing and personal items from the West coast to NYC. However I don't know anyone in NY to ship them to. Does anyone have suggestions on how to do this, or know of a trustworthy service that will accept shipped items until I get there? posted by debu at 9:46 PM PST - 10 comments

Martial arts filter: The move that you see in so many martial arts movies where someone is knocked to the ground on their back and they roll backwards and then flip themselves forward onto their feet... what is that called? Also... [more inside]posted by educatedslacker at 8:30 PM PST - 7 comments

Can anyone recommend a free or cheap online translator for Arabic/English? (Actually, recommendations on more expensive ones are welcome too since I might be able to make a case for having my boss pay for it.) All I need is to get the basic gist of the Arabic. I know it's not going to be pretty -- that's okay. I've been using Google Translator which seems decent. I'm just wondering if there is an "industry standard." Ideally, I would LOVE to find something where I can feed in a Word document in Arabic and the translator spits out (an understandably rough) equivalent in English. But does such a thing exist? posted by zharptitsa at 6:14 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm trying to get some decent, low risk investment income in the short term, as I am in a state where I may need access to my funds as early as 6 months to a year from now. Where should I put my money? [more inside]posted by evadery at 5:56 PM PST - 10 comments

Linguistic/Etymology academics: I wrote a 2,000 word paper / article which friends say is of publishable quality and interesting, but not sure what venue to try. [more inside]posted by lpctstr; at 5:44 PM PST - 10 comments

Help me find a quotation. I have a vague memory of a quote from a respected literary figure (perhaps Orwell) which states that the name given to a piece of legislation will always denote the opposite of the purpose of the legislation. In effect, the names of our laws are propaganda. The USA PATRIOT Act springs immediately to mind.
Are you familiar with this alleged quote? Who said it and what did they say? Or did my drug-addled brain make the whole thing up? posted by oncogenesis at 5:16 PM PST - 6 comments

I have a handful of USB devices that I'd like to share between the 2-4 workstations/laptops at my desk. I don't need simultaneous access to a given device from multiple PC's, just the ability to switch which PC each device is assigned to. Here's the catch, though: I want to do the switching on a per-device basis, so standard USB switchboxes (that switch all USB devices at once) won't do the trick. Does such a device exist? [more inside]posted by arathorn at 4:48 PM PST - 6 comments

Does anyone know how to put more memory in an HP Laserjet 4700? There is an access panel on the rear right-hand side, and four screws holding in two slot covers labeled EIO, I believe.
I downloaded the service manuals but nothing in there I could use. I can pay someone to do a service call but it seems like it should be something I could do myself. posted by mecran01 at 3:44 PM PST - 6 comments

I recently increased my dosage of lamictal from 100mg/day to 200mg/day. I was prescribed 100mg pills, whereas before I had 25mg pills. For a month's supply of 100mg/daily in 25mg units, the bill sent to my insurance was over $500. For 200mg in 100mg units, it was just under $300.
Why would more of the active ingredient cost less? I know the difference in pill count can't account for that much of a differential. What's the creative economics here? posted by jammer at 1:29 PM PST - 8 comments

I just had a great job interview, and I should be a lock for this job. But I'm worried they might not hire me because I have a baby. Is this sex discrimination? [more inside]posted by libraryhead at 1:07 PM PST - 27 comments

It's interview season for me, which means suits and ties. I don't mind suits in cool weather, but it's been very warm here recently, and sweating all the way through an interview doesn't exactly scream "professionalism." How can I stay cool? [more inside]posted by tellumo at 12:32 PM PST - 28 comments

For a scholarly research project, it would very helpful if I had the names of all veterans of the Vietnam War. Does anyone know if this data is publicly available? If so, where could I find it? Advice about specific offices or sources is especially appreciated. posted by fdhidalgo at 12:31 PM PST - 7 comments

I want to buy a t-shirt for a friend with the Mac spinning circle - the one you see when you're waiting for something to happen - not the one that is the spinning beach ball. I swear I saw one on the internet once, but now I can't find it. Any idea who sells them? posted by serazin at 12:10 PM PST - 12 comments

My fiance is having septoplasty to correct his deviated septum on Monday. What can we expect in terms of how he'll feel and what he'll be able to do after the procedure? [more inside]posted by catfood at 11:41 AM PST - 13 comments

After eyeing my boss' new Treo 700, I'm toying with the idea of getting one. I have a few questions about Fancy New SmartPhone Technology that I'm hoping the hive mind can help me with. [more inside]posted by rossination at 11:29 AM PST - 13 comments

Name That Thing! You know that feeling you get sometimes when you wonder what would happen if you did something outrageous- punched a cop, stepped off a building, peed on the dinner table? No? Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one, because both Daniel Clowes (in Eightball) and P.G. Wodehouse (in Carry On, Jeeves) mention it.
The problem is, what do you call it? Does any culture have a word for this? I certainly can't think of an (American) English word or phrase shorter than "You know that feeling when...", etc. posted by paul_smatatoes at 11:16 AM PST - 75 comments

My goal is to find scenes from movies (or tv shows) that show funny/ironic employees/managers/customers interactions. Similar to Office Space or The Office. Any ideas? Thank you! posted by krisobi at 11:08 AM PST - 35 comments

How can I convince my accountant and my tax inspectors that I truly do need to buy a new 24" iMac in order to continue being a productive member of society? Because I don't. Please help me lie. [more inside]posted by MiguelCardoso at 11:05 AM PST - 27 comments

I have a pile of "one size fits all" T-shirts that don't fit me at all! I got them for free, I'm keeping them because they're souvenirs, but I'd like to modify a few to make them more useful to me, and I need some pointers/ideas. [more inside]posted by easternblot at 10:34 AM PST - 16 comments

I've found a new Prius that I might be able to buy before the tax rebate gets chopped in half. Since it's a new, popular car, am I going to be paying full price no matter what or should I try my meager haggling skills? If the latter, what should I aim for and how should I go about it given the "next guy will pay full price" line I'll inevitably encounter? [more inside]posted by ontic at 10:30 AM PST - 16 comments

As previouslydiscussed, Eattheweak and I will be finding our way from Denton, TX to Olympia, WA. We're trying to nail down the particulars. Help us pick our route and then tell us what to do on it! [more inside]posted by nadawi at 9:09 AM PST - 9 comments

my girlfriend is heavily in debt (£6,000), on a very badly paid job at a supermarket, with zero qualifications. This is making her very very depressed. How can I help? [more inside]posted by anonaccount at 9:03 AM PST - 26 comments

I get tons of spam in languages other than english -- entire messages in other languages that I can't even read to determine what the spam is about. I'd like to make a simple set of email filters to whack out any email in russian, chinese, japanese, and korean. Can someone give me a single character from each language that represents the most commonly used letter? (like the letter "a" in English) [more inside]posted by mathowie at 8:12 AM PST - 15 comments

Some folks in our office have shown the desire to use IM to communicate with other companies we do business with, pretty much at the urging of the external companies. I have some concerns. [more inside]posted by SteveInMaine at 7:26 AM PST - 25 comments

After my sister died earlier this year, I became guardian of my niece and nephew (14- and 17-y.o.). How can I say "NO" to things while keeping the peace in the house? [more inside]posted by paddbear at 6:39 AM PST - 38 comments

Where can I get a cheap (~25) laser pen in manhattan, preferrably south of 14 or even better south of houston? I check Canal st, but nothing.
Don't need the pen part. Just the laser part. I want it to entertain my new kitten. posted by milarepa at 5:12 AM PST - 18 comments

Help me learn more about nutrition and eating for wellness and energy.
I'm looking for recommendations for resources -- books especially - I can make use of along the path to healthy eatin'. [more inside]posted by t0astie at 3:44 AM PST - 15 comments

Who is the 'artist' behind a comedy barbershop quartet song, in which the opening goes through various cliches about how to deal with problems in life, and the answer/chorus is... (more inside) [more inside]posted by jrengreen at 3:35 AM PST - 4 comments

I am looking for a easy to setup and easy to use content management system that will allow members to upload large files for private sharing , allow event listings and commenting and other features. I need it to be easy for the users to do this (non-tech people). I need a free and quick solution - no roll your own time. [more inside]posted by srboisvert at 2:28 AM PST - 6 comments

If I make a piece of clothing from a store-bought sewing pattern and then sell the clothing, aren't I breaking some sort of copyright law? Likewise, if I buy a patterned fabric for my clothing and sell the clothing, are any laws broken because the fabric pattern was designed by someone else? posted by foxinthesnow at 10:47 PM PST - 13 comments

KidsBookFilter: Seriously, this was an awesome book... or, at least, that's the way I remember it! I read it in the mid-70s in the 2nd or 3rd grade probably, so it could have been published in the 60s. It was about the ghost of a cat (or the 9 lives of a cat?) that followed it's human family through several generations. That's all I can remember. That and it was an awesome book! So, no, there's not any [more inside]posted by catcatwomanman at 9:07 PM PST - 8 comments

I will be traveling through Germany (and a wee bit of Netherlands) this October for 3 weeks. I am already quite aware that Oktoberfest does not occur in October save for a few days.
Suggestions for this country during this time period?
I will be in at least Köln/Cologne, Bonn, Munich, Berlin. My schedule is very flexible and I plan to do the hostel thing. I have a Eurail pass already. I enjoy music, cafes, museums, meeting people A good friend from high school will be joining me. I'm in my mid-twenties. posted by umlaut at 8:02 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm the IT guy at my factory, I just got my higher ups to agree to let me host a LAN party in our large breakroom. I need to think of a witty name for it. I hate to call it XXXXXX Company LAN Party. [more inside]posted by JonnyRotten at 6:00 PM PST - 18 comments

I am a professional person and will be "downsized" from my current company next month. Since I am changing professions in the meantime, it may take 4 to 6 months to secure my next place of employment. Financial resources are my concern. I have 6 months of mortgage payments saved up, and no other debt beyond monthly utilities, cable, internet, etc. I do have savings I can draw from, and I am considering applying for state unemployment benefits. I may get a small severance package from the current employer. Would it be wise to seek a line of credit while I'm still employed? Would this put my house in jeopardy should it take longer to find work? Are there other resources I should consider? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 4:32 PM PST - 11 comments

Nicotenefilter: Where can one purchase kreteks (clove cigarettes) and flavoured cigarettes in Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario (preferrably in the former) and the Columbia, SC area, also preferrably for a good price? [more inside]posted by Glitter Ninja at 4:24 PM PST - 11 comments

Make the hurting stop! I got my ears pierced with stainless steel balls last Saturday, one in each lobe and two in the cartilage of my right ear. All was well until Monday, when an infection started in my cartilage. How do I get rid of it? Grossish details inside! [more inside]posted by schroedinger at 1:43 PM PST - 22 comments

I am looking for an article from Spy Magazine about America's colorful track record with politically appointed ambassadors.
The title set the tone nicely--something along the lines of: "Hey Jambo, Does Anyone Here Speak American?" [more inside]posted by Phred182 at 1:18 PM PST - 6 comments

Stop me before I ruin the relationship! We've been dating seriously and exclusively for two years and despite an age difference, things have been fantastic -- the best, most romantic relationship either of us has ever had. [more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:57 PM PST - 29 comments

ProductReviewFilter: Anyone here have any experience with the Whisper Wear breast pump? It looks like a great solution for my particular situation, but I'm wondering ... does it really work as well as a traditional pump? posted by anastasiav at 12:57 PM PST - 4 comments

Could someone suggest book(s) that deal with tips/tricks/methods of performing mathematical calulations faster. I mean higher mathematics and not just elementary operations like addition/multiplication/finding the root etc.
What I am looking for are hints and shortcuts that would help me with stuff like calculus, linear albegra, vectors and such.
Thanks! posted by sk381 at 12:23 PM PST - 7 comments

Question for New Yorkers. I was thinking about switching from Oxford health insurance plan to the mid-level HIP plan. I can save a bundle. Is HIP just terrible though? Anyone have any thoughts, seen any rankings? posted by dearleader at 11:57 AM PST - 4 comments

I live in a house where the rent is shared amongst five people. One of those people left for Vancouver over a month ago, presumably because she had a good job offer where she could work unlimited hours. This was to be a 2-week "working vacation" and she told us she was going to use those two weeks to save up some money for paying her variously-accruing debts. She hasn't returned.
We need to know what our options are. [more inside]posted by Imperfect at 11:46 AM PST - 29 comments

How much money should I loan a very good friend of mine in a tough situation? I feel lost as to what I should do. (extended facts in the extended) [more inside]posted by whatitis at 11:42 AM PST - 33 comments

I'm in NYC, my friend's several states away. I'm sending her a package and want to include some vegan snacks. What might I find in the city that is tasty and will travel well? [more inside]posted by Mikey-San at 11:12 AM PST - 17 comments

What things are worth the time and cost of doing/making myself? For example, tomatoes from the store are miles below the ones I grow in my garden. Fresh-baked bread is amazing. But knitting socks or a sweater seems hardly worth it, despite the fact that I can customize it, because of the high cost of the time and materials. [more inside]posted by sLevi at 11:01 AM PST - 48 comments

ATL residents: Have you seen an ice cream truck painted with Cartoon Network characters around town? If so, do you have any idea how to get in contact with the owner? posted by commasplice at 10:31 AM PST - 5 comments

Do you know where this character is from (4KB jpeg). It's a crudely drawn comic/cartoon of a person wearing an "I Heart Me" shirt, nailing a board to its head. posted by 6550 at 10:26 AM PST - 3 comments

I love arguing with people -- orally walking them through their premises, disputing their conclusions, bringing up cool new analogies and information, and learning and teaching in the process. I want to do this all day long and get paid for it. Career recommendations? [more inside]posted by shivohum at 10:24 AM PST - 29 comments

My wife is starting her own business. She's making custom illustrations for children's nurseries. She's looking for recomendations on a printer that can produce archival level prints so she can keep the originals (we started off wondering about giclee but it seems way to expensive).
The final product should feel like a professional print when framed and needs to last. Also, an thoughts on a scanner to be used in concert with the printer? posted by Shanachie at 9:36 AM PST - 6 comments

Are old people's (particularly men's) ears and noses as large as they seem? Or is it some sort of age-based illusion? And if my eyes do not deceive me, why are they that way? [more inside]posted by jckll at 9:25 AM PST - 18 comments

I am in pretty decent shape (nothing amazing, but 5' 7" and 138 pounds which is normal) but find that I can't do much of ANY running without feeling horribly, horribly nauseated within minutes of finishing. I can lift and do pushups, squats, etc., but running is basically out of the question. Sometimes it's so bad I have to stop even though it's rarely more than 10 minutes. Since I'm not unhealthy or overweight, I'm pretty concerned about this. Why does running, in particular, make me feel so awful? Does this happen to anyone else? Should I be trying to push through it? posted by dmaterialized at 9:19 AM PST - 15 comments

I'm writing an query in MS Access to get column 1 = product ID, column 2 = product Description. However, the description field has addtional spec data that I don't need. I want to remove anything after the first word, meaning remove after the first blank space.
Example:
Prod ID Prod Desc
10-362-3 Packing DT
12-345-5 Seal XT L-23
Desired result:
10-362-3 Packing
12-345-5 Seal
I tried to use FIND or SEARCH functions to identify the position of the first blank space and to truncate everything after that. However, Access does not recoganize either FIND or SEARCH. Does anyone have any idea how to accomplish this? Thanks. posted by dy at 9:15 AM PST - 4 comments

My mom was recently diagnosed with colon cancer, and is scheduled for a lower anterior resection of her colon next week. Help me plan meals for the first week post-surgery! [more inside]posted by desuetude at 8:54 AM PST - 9 comments

Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster. -- Sun Tzu
I get a lot of blog spam on my website and it got me thinking; if I am to fight it more effectively I need to learn more about it. How is it actually sent, what software or scripts do people use, and where do these people hang out on the Internet? [more inside]posted by maxpower at 8:31 AM PST - 4 comments

I've been tasked with analyzing call records for a small software support call center. Neither I nor the company have ever done this kind of thing before and I'm not sure what to do. [more inside]posted by cdavis at 8:05 AM PST - 3 comments

Does anyone know of any good, short books on building one's self-confidence? When I say self-confidence I don't mean a feeling of self-worth--already got that--but an external, exuded confidence, as in, "Hey, that guy must know what he's doing!" posted by whitebird at 7:34 AM PST - 8 comments

Ladies with fragrance allergies! If you are allergic to most heavily perfumed products (lotions, cremes, laundry detergent) what are the odds of fragranced tampons causing some wildness? [more inside]posted by mrs.pants at 7:21 AM PST - 13 comments

How can one protect an Intranet web site while allowing access from the Internet. Internal users need to see the web site without typing in a password, but when users access it from the outside they need to type in a name and password - or even better still a HTTPS session.
I can give more thn one internal IP to the server if I have to. Is htaccess the way to go?
(Joomla website)
Thanks! posted by bright77blue at 6:25 AM PST - 10 comments

I have seen some pretty cool things to do with photos/video : the flip books, postage stamps and the cool new moo.com cards. I love all of those kind of things.
I am thinking of christmas gifts- any one have any links or ideas I may not have seen yet? And/or places where you liked the results or may NOT have liked the results?
Thank you! posted by beccaj at 6:05 AM PST - 5 comments

Can anyone recommend a boot-camp style vacation retreat suitable for men where I can kick-off a fitness programme to get me in better shape and perhaps also spend some contemplative time? [more inside]posted by csg77 at 5:47 AM PST - 8 comments

I have an embarrassingly parallel problem for which I currently have a working algorithm prototyped in a relatively high level language (IDL). It's time I properly parallelised it however, and also rewrote it with something I can optimise a bit more easily. What languages and resources are available? [more inside]posted by edd at 5:25 AM PST - 10 comments

We're (myself, wife and 3m old daughter) going to Germany for a long weekend at the end of October. Wife and I have already got an annual travel policy, but need to get a policy for my daughter. Our policy is through the bank and they will not add her. [more inside]posted by lloyder at 4:15 AM PST - 4 comments

Audio Comedy; looking for new comics I may not have heard of and some downloadable comedy on the web (along the lines of Hicks, Sadowitz, Lee and Herring et al). As always, [more inside]posted by Gratishades at 3:37 AM PST - 17 comments

Whenever I embed divx or xvid files into my powerpoint presentations they speed way up and there isn't any sound. I have all the proper codecs installed as they play correctly through windows media player. posted by allthewhile at 9:42 PM PST - 1 comment

I'd like to rent an inexpensive cabin, somewhere picturesque and north of NYC, with room enough to fit 6 people who don't mind crashing on the floor in sleeping bags, for one weekend in October or November this fall. What can you tell me? posted by the jam at 9:37 PM PST - 6 comments

I always use sharpies to label burned cds, and it's never been a problem, even after years. How about all of youse? How about DVDRs? Is the expected lifespan of the media really meaningfully shortened?
Are the people who are selling special markers and Lightscribe, etc. just out to make a greasy buck off of my paranoia? posted by pullayup at 7:50 PM PST - 19 comments

I am Canadian, and my dream is to work in International Diplomacy. For various reasons, I don't think I would have much future in the Canadian Foriegn Service - does anyone know how I could get work in a mission for some other country? [more inside]posted by Deep Dish at 7:22 PM PST - 8 comments

I was chatting with a friend using Yahoo last night. My yahoo client started initiating a file transfer of a .wmv file without me physically initiating it. Even stranger, it was a file I didn't even have on my hard drive. I cancelled the transfer before it could complete, because by the file name, it was obviously porn (still not mine!). Has anyone had this happen to them or heard of it happening to anyone else? posted by augustweed at 5:23 PM PST - 10 comments

Planning a (nice) trip to Paraguay. Yes _Paraguay_. Probably just going to stay in Asuncion and hang with a friend whose family is fairly wealthy. I've heard it has a wacky history. Anyone have any experiences / words of warning / recommendations about it? [more inside]posted by vizsla at 3:26 PM PST - 5 comments

How do I setup monitor "gridlines" on Linux? Nvidia has software for Windows that let's you divide your monitor into virtual sub-monitors or set gridlines so that if you maximize a window in that certain section, it only maximizes to that particular area. This is particularly useful on big monitors. Does anyone know of any utilities on Linux that do this or how to configure KDE or Gnome (or I suppose another window manager) to do this? [more inside]posted by rordog at 3:24 PM PST - 3 comments

Linksys NSLU2 or ASUS WL-500G? I am looking for a wireless, cheap (around $100), Unix-based NAS solution that will let me plug in a couple of USB or SATA drives and do things like serve SSH and run BitTorrent. [more inside]posted by gentle at 2:50 PM PST - 8 comments

I typically use Safari, and have my preferences set to store all of my passwords and user names in my Keychain.app. However when it starts acting up and giving me the spinning beach ball, I use Camino (v. 1.0.3.) When I try to log in to a website, it asks me for my user name and password - do I really have to fill in ALL those passwords and user names all over again? In other words, is there any way I can get Camino to access the passwords I saved using Safari? [more inside]posted by invisible ink at 2:29 PM PST - 6 comments

Is it ethical to sue the victim of a phishing scam who agrees to take employment as someone who receives packages and ships them abroad if you have been victimized by the scam itself? [more inside]posted by JakeWalker at 2:19 PM PST - 13 comments

Remember my request for sci-fi music? Six months later, I'm finally ready to make my CD mix. Almost. Last night I figured out how to record mp3 audio from DVD on my Mac, and now I want to rip key dialogue snippets from classic sci-fi films. I went for Khan spitting at Kirk from his grave, but there's too much incidental music. I think maybe I can get Ripley signing off. What other short, iconic soundclips from sci-fi films should I look for? The intro to the old Battlestar Galactica? Something from Logan's Run? Blade Runner bits? Eerie, ethereal, otherworldly, outer-space stuff is best. (Bonus points if you can direct me to a source that's already done the work for me; right now I'm looking at a several-week Netflix slog.) posted by jdroth at 1:53 PM PST - 67 comments

MySQL Help! I am trying to use tags on my web site. I am trying to allow users to search for tags. I want the users to do a search like "castle+moat-ducks" and return all pages that have the tags castle and moat but DO NOT have the tag duck. How can I do this? There is a single tag table, which contains 3 fields, tag_id, image_id and tag, which holds the actual text of the tag. Please help me set up the proper query! Note that I am using PHP. posted by LoopyG at 1:39 PM PST - 29 comments

I'm considering opening a retail sustainable home decor shop in Portland. What are some of your favorite green/sustainable/simple home products and where do you get them? [more inside]posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 1:37 PM PST - 5 comments

How would I deny access to a my local network for applications, but allow them to access a VPN? I am thinking zone alarm / kerio / black ice would work, but I can't figure out how to configure them to do this. Any hints would be appreciated. posted by the giant pill at 1:32 PM PST - 1 comment

Are there any great online tools for working on writing a novel? I've seen previous posts on desktop software for this purpose, but I haven't found any nifty online tools. [more inside]posted by tastybrains at 12:12 PM PST - 8 comments

What rights do I have when re-entering the US? Let's say that I, a natural-born US citizen, am returning to the US after a vacation. Does the bill of rights still apply to me when speaking to the nice man at Customs/Immigration? [more inside]posted by kc8nod at 12:08 PM PST - 25 comments

What is Multivariable Testing, really? It was mentioned in this NYTimes article, but the term is only ever used in relation to QualPro, Inc.. What is the real mathematical/statistical technique they're using? Is this related to the Taguchi Method? Can someone explain it to me? posted by joshwa at 10:28 AM PST - 5 comments

I live just east of Toronto and this morning I happened to see this bird in my back yard - I have never seen one of these before - I am guessing it was someone's pet that has escaped - anyone know what it is? I managed to get a quick shot of it before it flew off - it was at least a foot in height with very long tail feathers.
http://tinyurl.com/rbpny posted by DonM at 9:45 AM PST - 7 comments

I want the service to offer my customized USB device, but without me having to make large batch purchases. So the service would make the product as the demand requires. Perhaps they are even integrated with a webshop so they can just deduct the cost from the price of the order. posted by torpark at 8:10 AM PST - 5 comments

Vancouver-filter: My young friend (23!) is going to be in Vancouver from Oct. 11 - 18. She is on a very low-budget. Recommendations for cheap places to stay, fun things to do, nice coffee places with good people and any other advice for a young woman off to see the world! posted by typewriter at 7:36 AM PST - 22 comments

I use Adium as my instant messenging client. I am in the process of moving user accounts and I would like to take all of my settings and data with me. How do I do it? posted by honorguy7 at 7:22 AM PST - 3 comments

Any recomendations for a GUI for rsync to run on a linux server using PHP? I need to be able to install it via FTP as some of the servers that I have been asked to put this on do not allow shell. posted by thebwit at 6:55 AM PST - 3 comments

Round about this past April, I developed a nasty, hacking cough that hit only in the mornings. Can my icky, phlegmy self still have this same cold virus, months upon months later? [more inside]posted by AthenaPolias at 10:09 PM PST - 15 comments

Tonight I was paying at a gas station and I used the keypad to enter my pin. The numbers 2, 3 and 4 showed tremendous wear compared to all other keys except the enter key. It's the kind of stupid odd trivia that appeals to me. I Googled "common pin numbers" and it seems "123" is pretty common among the unimaginative. But that doesn't explain 2, 3 and 4 being so well-worn, and not 1. Can you? posted by Bud Dickman at 8:57 PM PST - 25 comments

My hard drive died and I want to recover a great deal of the data that (hopefully) still exists on it. After reading the Metafilter Wiki, I know this question has been asked before, but my question relates more to the process of recovering the data than the actual possibility of doing so. [more inside]posted by Effigy2000 at 4:50 PM PST - 16 comments

TexasRealEstateExamFilter: Im going to be taking my Texas Real Estate agent exam in November. Can anyone a recommend a good online study guide/exam prep? Preferably one that you have had experience with. posted by flipmiester99 at 4:47 PM PST - 1 comment

There are red reflectors stuck to the windows of the office building where I work. They're like the kind on the back of bicycles, but affixed to the inside of the windows, facing in, and are distributed so that there's only one or two per room.
We're on the 26th floor, so I thought maybe they were somehow to ward off birds... but there's no reflective surface viewable from the outside. Their placement is haphazard enough that it's difficult to imagine them being used for any kind of surveying work.
No one at the office seems to know why these reflectors exist. Any ideas? posted by Jeff Howard at 4:44 PM PST - 5 comments

Now that I'm managing my pregnancy-induced-hypertension with Labetalol why are both my OBs so gung-ho about preparing me for an early induced-labor? [more inside]posted by DenOfSizer at 1:27 PM PST - 36 comments

Does anyone know of a good computer prank I can install on my housemate's computer that will let me do funny stuff to him remotely across our network?
Nothing horrible or malicious here - just a bit of fun. posted by mooreeasyvibe at 11:54 AM PST - 38 comments

What does UPS Ground charge for a one-time pickup at my house if I don't have an account? And is it a per-pickup or per-package charge? I have wasted an hour trying to figure this out on their website, and their cost calculator isn't clear either. I seem to remember about 5 years ago pickups were free but you had to get on the next day's schedule. posted by chef_boyardee at 11:35 AM PST - 7 comments

I received an older Royal portable typewriter this weekend, which is the Quiet De Luxe model. It's in great shape, but I'm puzzled about one thing. It is completely missing the "1" key and the "+ / =" key (so, the keys on the edge of the top row, other than "back space" and "tab.") All of the hammers are accounted for with keys, and I don't see anything that is obviously missing mechanically. Any idea why this keyboard just wouldn't have these keys? posted by hominid211 at 11:29 AM PST - 16 comments

Toronto MeFites: 1.Which company has the best home delivery for organic veggies and fruits? In case it's relevant, I live alone so variety is preferred to multiples of the same item. 2. Tips and suggestions for dealing with one of these places? 3. I'm vegetarian so flesh delivery isn't required. posted by dobbs at 11:14 AM PST - 11 comments

I have this vague memory of a comic or graphic novel I read one time about a man executed for a murder he didn't commit. Anyone know what it might be? [more inside]posted by thirteenkiller at 10:52 AM PST - 6 comments

Lately, my iBook G4 (I use Toast Titanium, 6 and 7) has trouble recognizing my external FireWire hard drive. Today, the external DVD burner (USB) has disappeared -- the iBook just doesn't recognize it anymore. Is my logic board f*cked, again? And if it is, does it make economic sense to fix it on such an old machine, or should I just upgrade? Thanks. posted by matteo at 10:45 AM PST - 5 comments

Does anybody remember those circular templates that makes infinite radial patterns with colored ball pens? They had concentric holes for which to anchor a ballpoint against an outer axle, and then you change colors corresponding with the holes? What do you call those? Is it called anything at all? posted by azul at 10:02 AM PST - 30 comments

Help me solve a 13-year-old mystery involving two cuts in my car's high pressure fuel line and an oil reservoir cap that was removed from its mount. [more inside]posted by syzygy at 9:05 AM PST - 23 comments

Farecast is telling us to wait to buy tickets to Las Vegas for next weekend -- they have 58% confidence that the price will go down. How late can we wait and still be sure to get tickets? [more inside]posted by onlyconnect at 7:58 AM PST - 7 comments

2nd Monitor question: I am about to embark on a distance-learning MBA program and will be spending a lot of time in front of my computer typing up notes, researching and so forth. You will find a little bit [more inside]posted by mooders at 7:51 AM PST - 8 comments

What's the best way to get qualified in TEFL and find a teaching position, given that I've probably missed the start of the academic year? [more inside]posted by London Irregular at 7:50 AM PST - 6 comments

My current auto insurance policy expires in 11 days. At the beginning of the month, I bought a policy from another company to start on the same day my current policy ended. Today, I was in a car accident. How would the fact that I'm not renewing my current policy affect me? [more inside]posted by Darke at 7:50 AM PST - 10 comments

Anyone out there with a gocco printer? I am having a problem with mine. The masters aren't imaging correctly. When I expose the master, the image doesn't burn into the screen enough to allow for the ink to pass through. I even tried exposing my screen twice and it still didn't work. Has anyone had this happen? Any suggestions on what I could do? posted by bonecrusher at 7:19 AM PST - 4 comments

I have an graphic novel that I would like to publish online, however I've found it a little difficult looking for people who want or can help me with the project. Perhaps you might have some advice? [more inside]posted by Sevenupcan at 7:11 AM PST - 8 comments

Calling all research pros! Driving over 'rumblestrips' that are spaced to produce a tune?! Help me find more specific information on the 'Musical Highway' in Villepinte, France! [more inside]posted by adamkempa at 7:10 AM PST - 6 comments

Situation: 16.5 year old son, ripe with hormones. Also ADD & PDD-NOS, as well as depressed, which make him impulsive, resistant to authority, and Not So Good at social cues.
He's sending sexually explicit text messages to a girl, who's apparently willing to go right along. Even if we we permissive [I am, his bio parents aren't] he's not ready for it.
How do we talk to him? [more inside]posted by eridanis at 6:32 AM PST - 49 comments

The other night my brother suddenly passed out for a split second while we were in the car. It's very strange, I'm pretty worried about him, and of course there's [more inside]posted by denimflavored at 6:28 AM PST - 22 comments

So, I was recently told that I would be joining the Girl Scouts. Here's the thing... I'm a 35 year old male.
Help me be a great Girl Scouts dad! [more inside]posted by BruceL at 5:50 AM PST - 16 comments

I boght a 40GB Ipod back in the day when they were relatively new and, as such, I payed full whack. It broke down during warranty and I was issued with a new Ipod and now the new Ipod has broken down outside of warranty. I was gobsmacked to discover that Apple require ~£160 merely to look at the Ipod without guaranteeing the fixing of it. All this has led me to ask the question, are consumable electronics of this nature designed to have a short shelf life with the cost of fixture used to make you purchase the next generation? Am I wrong to feel agrieved at this? [more inside]posted by numberstation at 5:13 AM PST - 20 comments

I'm about to quit taking Zoloft, tapering down from 50 mg daily. I starting taking it because I was having problems dealing with a specific situation, which is now over, and because I tend towards depression. I'm a bit scared to quit. Any advice on quitting? What should I expect? Anecdotes welcome. posted by anonymous at 4:57 AM PST - 17 comments

MidEastMusicFilter: Ethnomusicologists and Middle Eastern-music fans, can you identify this song? And, in any case, can you tell me more about the style of music to which it belongs? posted by mykescipark at 4:41 AM PST - 9 comments

At the end of the month I'll be spending a Saturday evening in Luxembourg. What shall I do? I'll be myself, and would like to do something I'm not able to do anywhere else. What are the options? posted by Cobbler at 2:39 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm thinking about building an online networking site for journalists seeking quotes from people in remote places, but want to make sure such a thing doesn't already exist. [more inside]posted by jbickers at 2:02 AM PST - 14 comments

September 17

Last month in the New York Times I saw an image of Humphrey Bogart from his classic film "Treasure of the Sierra Madre", but the picture was animated/rotoscoped, in the same style as the recent "Scanner Darkly". What was this from, who is the artist, and how can I see it?
I do not know if the image in the paper was a shot from an entire animated version of the film(which would be awesome!), or just an artist's rendition of a single shot from the film. I saw this image in a section about art exhibits and happenings to attend in the month of July/Aug in New York.
I'm a huge Bogart fan, any New Yorkers out there who can help me? posted by archae at 11:17 PM PST - 2 comments

I posted a hookup ad on Craigslist and got 200+ genuine, funny and long responses (along with 40 or 50 immediate deletions). What's the norm here for responses? Do I respond and say "no thanks", something more or just leave dead silence? Which would you prefer? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:13 PM PST - 14 comments

I am about to start running in a more serious capacity, which is to say to train for races. I love gadgets, so I am drawn to both of these for various reasons. Which is better, Nike + iPod or the Garmin Forerunner 201? [more inside]posted by bDiddy at 7:45 PM PST - 11 comments

I go to school in NYC, and, this next week, I get free NJTransit! How can I take advantage of this? What (if anything) in New Jersey is worth seeing? posted by kickingtheground at 5:01 PM PST - 17 comments

Does anybody out there in the UK subscribe to The New Yorker? How long does it take for the magazine to arrive via Surface Mail? How about Airmail? And, how do I get the best subscription rate, please? Thanks a lot posted by marcomartini at 4:04 PM PST - 7 comments

Please help me select a book as a present for my nephew. He's 19, and when I gave him a Chapters gift card for his high school graduation last spring, he used it to buy a complete set of Tom Clancy novels. Political espionage/intrigue/adventure has to be the genre I know the least about. If my nephew likes Tom Clancy's and Frederick Forsythe's works, what other books in the same genre would he enjoy? posted by orange swan at 3:04 PM PST - 25 comments

I'm looking for clothes to feel good (best fabric) and look good (in a casual, perennial way), and am looking for ideas about a backpack to go with that. [more inside]posted by Furious Fitness at 1:57 PM PST - 7 comments

I care enough about getting all my physical media into digital form that I'm ready to hand-scan my remaining books where necessary. Before I do this, what are all the ways I should search to be sure a given book doesn't exist as an ebook I could buy (or in any other digital form)? Also: any hints for efficiently doing the scanning & OCR? posted by allterrainbrain at 7:49 AM PST - 10 comments

Please help me find information about the Best Buy "Centricity" market segmentation program -- specifically, the controversial new "customer profiles" used to identify Best Buy's most desirable demographics. [more inside]posted by jayder at 7:21 AM PST - 22 comments

I recently bought my older brothers (splatta) laptop (apple Titanium PowerBook G4) because he got the new macbook pro. I saw that he could use two fingers on the pad to scroll, and was wondering if anyone could recomend a good program that i could download it to my laptop to use. posted by The Boy at 5:04 AM PST - 6 comments

How do you start digitizing a dictionary? More specifically, how (and where) do I begin putting together a digital and internally cross-referenceable edition of the Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic? [more inside]posted by awenner at 9:44 PM PST - 16 comments

Does anyone know of the research paper (study) where they had people do a day-old crossword and they claimed that those people were able to solve those easier than new crossword puzzles? I saw it referenced in "Waking Life" and was wondering if it were a real paper. posted by tasty at 7:52 PM PST - 8 comments

This is embarrassing, but here goes. I used to be a fan of Denise Austin - a perky TV exercise guru -and her daily workouts which ran for months on cable (east coast). [more inside]posted by Jody Tresidder at 5:39 PM PST - 14 comments

My smartphone (SonyEricsson P910i) suddenly stopped working yesterday. A pop-up window appears on booting with the title "Information" and just one word - "corrupt". There's a box saying " continue" to click on and when I do so, it just hangs. Any idea what I can do with it? I badly need to rescue the data from it - lots of things (calendar, phone book, notes) that weren't backed up (I know, I know - but the backup program they supplied never worked properly. It always duplicated all the calendar / phonebook entries instead of backing them up.) Help! posted by monster max at 4:44 PM PST - 2 comments

Our doctor is dropping all insurance and Medicare participation but isn’t telling his patients until they show up at his office, or if they just happen to read his web site. Should we do anything about it? [more inside]posted by Robert Angelo at 3:05 PM PST - 16 comments

The DH and I are looking for a meat slicer so we can take advantage of cheaper "bulk" deli meats. It will also be used to slice roasts for jerky. We anticipate using it 2-4 times monthly. We want a good quality slicer that doesn't break the bank. A Hobart would be nice......but the budget is saying $200-$400 max. Any suggestions? posted by MonkeyToes at 2:47 PM PST - 11 comments

Am I overpaying for internet service? I'm paying 10$ extra a month for a 500k connection (as opposed to a 200) yet it seems to not be enough. Whilst running torrents, I'm unable to load webpages, which is annoying, to say the least. [more inside]posted by gilsonal at 2:07 PM PST - 13 comments

OK, so I'm sitting here with one of my buddies, talking about his research, and we realized that we know the word for "of or relating to mice" (murine), and the word for "of and related to cow" (bovine), but have no clue what the word for "of or related to rat" is. And after what we thought of as a pretty comprehensive web search (including this very good Google Answer), we're no closer to an answer. Anyone know what the word we're looking for is? posted by delfuego at 1:47 PM PST - 14 comments

I live in a hundred-year old house (in Los Angeles, no less!) that has limited electrical outlets. I have unlimited (it seems) electronics - three computers, monitors, two laser printers, two air conditioners, electric heater (in the winter), etc. The house was upgraded from old-style fuses to circuit breakers a few years ago. It is a rental so I am not able to do any upgrades. None of the wall outlets are three prong, so I am using adapters. In the summer, my office is just overdone with things drawing power - all three computers, the printers, AC, and probably 20 (or more) smaller items - cell phone, postage scale, radio, etc.... [more inside]posted by soulbarn at 1:31 PM PST - 12 comments

Genuine question: Given that Mohammed was a succesful military leader who led armies to kill many thousands, at what point did he switch approach and promote peace? [more inside]posted by pettins at 12:02 PM PST - 10 comments

Without knowing any drivetrain/mechanical details other than what you could see from the exterior (details within) and that it last passed inspection in April 2006, would you buy a bright red 1985 Porsche 944 for $6500? [more inside]posted by vanoakenfold at 11:47 AM PST - 13 comments

My motherboard died, and now I need to hook the harddrives up to another PC to get the data off. Problem: Some of it was in the "My Documents" folder, and I can't get to it without being logged on to an admin account. I have no way of doing that, since I can't boot from the old windows installation anymore. [more inside]posted by borkingchikapa at 11:08 AM PST - 4 comments

How can I try out a Filco Majestouch keyboard? Inspired by an earlier question today, I looked it up on the web, but most of what I could find was Japan-centered. Any ideas about how I could find one to try, or even to order? I'm in the US (Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina). posted by amtho at 9:27 AM PST - 4 comments

Are there truly no free plans for a DIY portable disc golf basket on the Internet? How do the fold-up portables hold up over time if you actually fold them up and transport them? [more inside]posted by dontrockwobble at 8:08 AM PST - 2 comments

MusicFilter: Looking for examples of Western pop, rock & so-forth that have a distinct Indian (as in Subcontinental, not Native American) influence, either in instrumentation (tabla, sitar, etc.) or presentation. [more inside]posted by grabbingsand at 7:34 AM PST - 33 comments

How do I set my (Windows XP) PC to record audio using the mixed output as the recording source? I built my own machine with an M-Audio Revolution 5.1 and can't figure out how to do this. [more inside]posted by rxrfrx at 5:36 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a comfort bike from Schwinn and it rides in a quite upright position. I would really like to buy a road bike even a very old one, mainly because I like the riding posture. But there is none that I can find. In desperation, I am thinking about changing the handlebar to like those in a drop bike.
Would it work? Would it look stupid? Should I even think about doing it? posted by raheel at 2:57 AM PST - 15 comments

I have five weeks to train for a 10 mile run. I did the same distance last year in 90 mins and have been running about 3 times a week for about 30 mins since, but have been on holiday for last three weeks, no exercise and loads of eating and drinking. I need a emergency training programme to get me ready - any advice? posted by janecr at 2:12 AM PST - 3 comments

Word is starting to drive me insane. Is there any way to force it to use only the styles I defined, and not clutter the list with every minute variation of those styles? [more inside]posted by Harry at 2:11 AM PST - 6 comments

There is a 4 way intersection. 3 ways have to stop and 1 way does not. 2 cars are approaching each other head on, 1 coming to the stop sign, the other not having a stop sign... [more inside]posted by comatose at 1:34 AM PST - 25 comments

Six months ago my fiance posted a question asking for advice on how to stop a female friend who had flipped out after our engagement and started to harass me via text message. Unfortunately, it's still going on... [more inside]posted by christinetheslp at 8:21 PM PST - 18 comments

In 1991 when the Baltimore Orioles left Memorial Stadium, WBAL released a cassette tape of a tribute to the stadium. Hosted by a Dan Roderick, it was a sentimental journey through Memorial Stadiums past, complete with old radio broadcasts, readings from Field of Dreams and The Natural, and interviews. I had the tape, but lost it recently in a move and really want to track it down. Anybody heard of this tape or have an idea where I can find a copy or MP3 of it? I'd be forever indebted. [more inside]posted by conorlastowka at 6:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Is super glue (cyano acrylate) electrically conductive when dry? or wet? I just finished soldering something, and the joints are very close together. I'm trying to figure out if it's a good idea to coat everything in super glue to better insulate it. posted by fvox13 at 3:50 PM PST - 23 comments

What is the best way to clean a hardwood floor? I've gone the Murphy's Oil Soap route and it just leaves splotches, even after I try to wipe it with a rag afterwards. I'd rather avoid getting on my hands and knees. Anything that is tried-and-true and will make my floor shine? [more inside]posted by printchick at 3:42 PM PST - 9 comments

If a person is accused of a crime, and committed said crime but is confident that there is little or no evidence and plans to plead not guilty, do they tell their counsel that they did it? [more inside]posted by Mayor Peace Love and Unity at 2:03 PM PST - 27 comments

Help me find the cool, colorful luggage we saw at a luggage shop in Tokyo Station and are now regretting not buying. It was a small, wheeled case with a purse/makeup bag included. The case was decorated with colorful squares of alternating hue, like the Patridge Family bus or what I think of as Mondrian design. Blue, white and pink were definitely involved, maybe also red. I think it was $140 American, but may have been 140 Yen. There are so many luggage stores there, though, and we didn't take note of either the store name or the designer. Likely a Japanese maker/designer, but unsure. Any tips would be much appreciated! posted by GaelFC at 12:56 PM PST - 2 comments

Firefox-Is-On-CrackFilter: I deleted a non-default Firefox profile and things got deleted from my desktop...not just icons, but folders that I was storing there. How do I recover them? [more inside]posted by needs more cowbell at 12:46 PM PST - 10 comments

My plans for a Park and Ride Party (picnic and cycling in Central Park) tomorrow have been rained out. Please save my get-together by suggesting some active, indoor activities in New York! [more inside]posted by chickletworks at 11:53 AM PST - 4 comments

Tomorrow I embark on a cruise (Carnival) for the Caribbean. (First time cruiser!) Specifically Nassau, Saint Thomas and St. Maarten. Looking for any tips, things we shouldn't miss, and a couple of ship-related questions inside... [more inside]posted by MarkLark at 11:05 AM PST - 27 comments

I like smoking pot, and it's often very useful when I'm working, in that it helps me to focus and brainstorm and problem-solve. But I recently cut it out of my daily routine, and for the most part I'm happy to be without it right now...but I do wish to have a little puff once a week. I miss the brainstorms! The problem is, now every time I do smoke, the whole next day I feel way unmotivated and unfocused. Someone suggested more-rigorous exercise the next morning might help, because it burns off the fat molecules...is that total crap? Help me keep the brainstorms without losing my luster the next day! [more inside]posted by snortlebort at 10:59 AM PST - 24 comments

I just started work at a small family owned restaurant. My previous kitchen jobs used a service like Cozzini to keep their knives wicked sharp. Unfortunately, this place only has a few very dull and cheap supermarket bought knives. I wanted to bring in a few decent knives, but nothing fancy. Any recomendations? [more inside]posted by Telf at 10:32 AM PST - 19 comments

It's been a long time since I did any role playing games (pen and paper). But I liked the "examples of play" that were included in the rulebooks, like on page 8 of the Dugeonmaster's Guide (v.3.5). Granted these are idealized sessions, but I am curious if there are any podcasts where folks record their role-playing events. [more inside]posted by squink at 10:17 AM PST - 5 comments

How do I approach my quantitative-research-phobic boyfriend about diagnosing and resolving some communication problems in our long distance relationship? [more inside]posted by dorothy humbird at 8:40 AM PST - 34 comments

Several times over the past few months, glasses have come out of my dishwasher sliced into two pieces. The cut is always smooth, and I don't find any glass shards left over. This only happens with glasses--mugs, plates, etc, are entirely unharmed. What might be causing this? [more inside]posted by yankeefog at 8:39 AM PST - 17 comments

A friend has asked me to write a letter as her lawyer so she can get health insurance from Mediabistro. Does anyone know anything about this? [more inside]posted by johnasdf at 7:45 AM PST - 12 comments

MEDICAL INSURANCE: I'm getting some for the first time in 8 years. Clearly I should have at least catastrophic, but help me decide whether having more is worth the cost. Also: any opinions about HealthyNY insurance? [more inside]posted by lorimer at 7:40 AM PST - 9 comments

I have a lot of icons on my Windows XP desktop, I have them sorted by games in a corner, documents in other and tho.. I want to know if exists something to hide them and show when I want or organize them, without creating folders. posted by Leech at 6:35 AM PST - 15 comments

Is there any kind of API for All Music Guide (if there is it seems to be undocumented), or has anyone written any kind of 3rd party scraper based API for it? Are there any alternate music data sources on the web of the same quality that do have APIs? [more inside]posted by shinji_ikari at 6:31 AM PST - 5 comments

We're losing a freelance, outsourced web coder that our business relies upon. How do we find and then transition over to someone new without losing loads of money and time? Story inside. [more inside]posted by unclemonty at 5:47 AM PST - 11 comments

Is there any way to lock the iTunes "Party Shuffle" function into some kind of kiosk mode? So that drunken revellers can have some influence, but not do too much damage? [more inside]posted by skylar at 1:55 AM PST - 7 comments

Gold has all sorts of ethical problems, but I have not heard anything about platinum. Is this just because it is rarer and more expensive (so I'm unlikely to come across it), or is it actually a morally better choice? posted by handee at 1:45 AM PST - 6 comments

I have two rolls of exposed, undeveloped super 8mm film in my freezer right now. I want to have processing and a digital transfer done. I've done a bunch of research online, yet I can't seem to find a place that I would feel comfortable sending my film to that isn't astronomically expensive. Where can I have this done? Bonus if its in or somewhat near Chicago. posted by tev at 10:00 PM PST - 7 comments

Okay, yet another guy looking for the name of a TV show from the 70s. It was kinda like the Muppets, had a laugh track and musical sequences, set in a woodsy town. There was an owl who brewed up potions, a teenage band of bees who fly in the title sequence, an antagonistic, aristocratic lady with a pointy nose, lots of psychedelic sequences, etc. [more inside]posted by wavejumper at 8:07 PM PST - 5 comments

Folks are coming to visit from out of town and we'll be in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Saturday night. Where should we take them for dinner? [more inside]posted by lucidreamstate at 8:00 PM PST - 13 comments

When I was about ten when I saw this movie about a family trapped in a house. Their windows and doors were bricked in and they could not get out. Whenever they turned the television on a strange logo appeared. I think I remember the mother accusing the father of having done something to cause this situation. The thing that sticks in my mind was a scene towards the end of the movie where tons of black goo comes down the chimney and out of the fireplace. [more inside]posted by Sonny Jim at 7:26 PM PST - 14 comments

Windows update problems...
I get to windowsupdate >>
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us >> and then my browser hangs. CPU usage hits 100% and prety much stays there. SVChost.exe / or at least one instance of it / takes up most of that ; about 98%. [more inside]posted by dash_slot- at 6:40 PM PST - 10 comments

The new latex wall paint in my entry hall is the wrong color. It is too bright; too much color. Is there a technique that will wash out the walls with white without losing all the color? posted by partner at 6:37 PM PST - 3 comments

A while back, a designer friend tipped me off to an amusing web site that appeared to be a high-end consulting/design firm. Upon further reading, it becomes clear that the site is a parody, filled with all sorts of (well written) buzzwords and nicely styled layouts. It's a parody of consulting/design sites, I guess. Hard to describe.
I'm hoping, dear hive mind, that my NyQuil-tinted remembrance of this site is enough. posted by Merdryn at 4:48 PM PST - 8 comments

There is no door between my (shared) bathroom and my bedroom. I love my roommates, but I'd also love some privacy! Help me make a barrier that is vision/sound proof. [more inside]posted by xaire at 3:21 PM PST - 20 comments

We're interested in building a cottage-home community in the Montgomery County, MD The idea is to build about 8 small (less than 1000 sq. feet) well-built, environmentally-friendly cottages facing a common courtyard/gardens on about 1 acre- based on those like The Cottage Company's http://www.cottagecompany.com/ designed by Ross Chapin, http://www.rosschapin.com/. The idea would be to give a more affordable, environmentally-friendly housing option to single people, young couples, small families, empty-nesters- those who are priced out of the current market, searching for community. DC Me-fites, does this sound interesting/do-able? [more inside]posted by leotrotsky at 2:47 PM PST - 18 comments

What's inside my computer that's causing little slices on my fingertips? The last two times I've opened up one of my computers, I've gotten long, shallow cuts on my fingertips that I didn't notice until I was closing everything up and saw blood on my hand. [more inside]posted by camcgee at 2:44 PM PST - 16 comments

I seem to remember hearing about a brewery in a European city using old utility pipes to deliver beer directly into peoples' houses. Did I make that up? A friend thinks so, and I agree: it sounds too good to be true. Has anybody else heard this? posted by Alt F4 at 2:12 PM PST - 14 comments

One of my neighbors has been 'pruning' his 30ft-high bamboo forest recently, and being a bit of a scavenger I've been taking the 5ft lengths he's chopped and storing them in my shed. It seems such a waste to have them shredded.
Having grabbed all this lovely bamboo, I'm now at a bit of a loss as to what to do with it. I've made a couple of little holders for odds-and-ends (like my toothbrush), but I'm wondering if there's a great resource out there that would give me some more ambitious ideas.
What would you do with a shed full of bamboo?
(Diameters of the bamboo range from twigs up to 5 inches thick.) posted by dunstanorchard at 1:56 PM PST - 22 comments

My little brother (sophomore) is going to take the PSAT next month. What resources, books, websites, advice, techniques, etc. should I send his way so he can do his best? posted by lychee at 1:45 PM PST - 20 comments

How can I mix astronaut background sounds and change my voice so it sounds like I'm using one of the radios from the old-NASA spaceflight days? [more inside]posted by Smedleyman at 12:20 PM PST - 10 comments

I'm moving to Mexico City in about a month, and from what I hear, my Motorola Razr phone won't work there, since it's the Verizon model (not GSM). What phone should I get to replace the Razr? [more inside]posted by jacob at 11:59 AM PST - 9 comments

Can anyone point me to an MP3/CD to download/purchase of the song that plays over the "theme song" that plays over the speakers in Japan's Don Quijote stores? posted by jeditanuki at 11:59 AM PST - 4 comments

Network Attached Storage for dummies 2 [a follow-up to this post]: If you backup your home computers to a device that's also sitting in your home, do you then take additional backups off site? And what about encryption? (Thinking of fire, or if the babysitter walks out of the house with the NAS drive in her backpack.) [more inside]posted by Dave 9 at 11:27 AM PST - 11 comments

I need to gain access behind a dishwasher. Are the hoses and electrical cables generally long enough so that a dishwasher can be pulled out without the need to disconnect said hoses and cables? Or am I better off calling someone who knows more about electricity and plumbing than I? posted by dshargel at 10:50 AM PST - 10 comments

Simple content management for someone with server limitations: I'd like to find the easiest way to organize abstracts of articles, but most of the solutions I've found don't seem to be possible. [more inside] [more inside]posted by padjet1 at 10:35 AM PST - 6 comments

I am currently building a 'community' website which is like the Yellow Pages with user reviews. For example, the website lists all the Florists, Plumbers, and Massage Therapists in the area, and then allows people to post a review for the particular service. The website is for a community of about 75,000 and it won't be difficult to get the word out about the website. The challenge is getting people to 'generate' the content. How can we incentivize people to write reviews? Any examples of websites that are doing this right? Most importantly, any creative ideas from the savvy marketers out there on how to get people to write reviews and generate our critical content with minimal financial incentive? posted by jasondigitized at 10:19 AM PST - 8 comments

Restocking fees: I bought a Mac Mini right before the new ones were announced, etc. etc., open-box restocking fee. I think their mechanism for assessing the fee is dishonest ... [more inside]posted by blueshammer at 10:08 AM PST - 9 comments

I have a lot of pennies. They accumulated over the past 12 years. I need a permanent solution to this problem other than a big jar (that you have to move eventually and gets heavier by day). What do you do with your pennies? posted by eebs at 9:35 AM PST - 27 comments

Amazon Advantage: click Log In at left, then click "Contact Us". The browser just refreshes the page and does not show any contact information. What's going on? Is my browser hosed or is there something I need to enable? posted by shannymara at 9:01 AM PST - 1 comment

DogNameFilter: Yesterday, my girlfriend and I adopted a wonderful mutt from the Humane Society. Our problem; her name, Daisy. Not that there is anything wrong with the name Daisy per se but it sounds more appropriate for a cow. [more inside]posted by fieldtrip at 8:30 AM PST - 50 comments

How do I get rid of an unpleasant leather smell on a bag bought in Morocco? I think the leather is either poorly tanned or newly made so it has a really strong animal smell. posted by sachabright at 8:27 AM PST - 4 comments

I am getting an input tablet, the intuous 3, later today. I wanted to start drawing again, a minor skill for me, but one that has been compromised by the worsening of my essential tremor. That is, my hands shake too much to draw a good line.
What might be a way of mitigating this effect while using a tablet, without resorting to vector graphics. [more inside]posted by kingfisher, his musclebound cat at 7:25 AM PST - 11 comments

So I've tried a few apps that allow me to take large chunks of text and import them to my iPod, making an "eBook" of sorts.
The first thing I tested it with was the Mcsweeny's big old page of funny food reviews, and I liked it... [more inside]posted by sourwookie at 7:22 AM PST - 5 comments

What's a good (preferably free) CD burner that I can use to do weekly data backups? In the ones I've tried, a "project" is a list of files; I want one that goes by directories instead, so it'll automatically include new files. I'm on WinXP. posted by futility closet at 7:02 AM PST - 5 comments

I work for a nonprofit in Central Florida. In the event of an impending emergency (hurricane, fire, whathaveyou) we would like the ability to send a recorded message out to a pre-set list of contacts AND have a message box where those contacts would be able to leave messages for our staff. [more inside]posted by IndigoSkye at 6:58 AM PST - 2 comments

I'm writing a program that uses lots of memory. I'd like a utility that can show me what it's using the memory for.
For example, one part of the program processes an XML file, creates an object and loads a WebBrowser .NET control. I'd like to see how much memory was required to parse the XML file, how much memory my object is using, and how much memory the WebBrowser control uses. [more inside]posted by matthewr at 5:54 AM PST - 3 comments

HAs anyone out there had any good or bad experiences with the OnBase Imaging software from Hyland? Our company is looking at becoming a reseller and I am just looking for different perspectives....
Thanks Gang! posted by keep it tight at 5:37 AM PST - 0 comments

Can one use RCA cables (red/white/yellow) in component jacks (red/blue/green)? I understand that the jacks carry much different data/signal/whatever, but I was told that there is no need to buy (very) pricey component cables...you can actually just hook up good quality red/white/yellow RCA cables to the component jacks for the same purpose. [more inside]posted by tpl1212 at 5:34 AM PST - 17 comments

What does it mean if every few minutes my home wi-fi service stops for a few seconds? Is this a problem with the access point? connecting wire? [more inside]posted by quintno at 3:25 AM PST - 8 comments

I can't seem to find gloves that don't have fingertips, but they do have a mitten "attachment" that can cover your fingertips. (example inside) [more inside]posted by Kimberly at 12:35 AM PST - 15 comments

I have 800 PDFs in a folder. I'd like for them to all have 1) Show Page Only, Page layout to Default, and Magnification to Default 2) Have all the extra stuff removed (bookmarks, metadata, embedded thumbnails) Is there any way to do this as a batch? posted by lpctstr; at 12:26 AM PST - 1 comment

September 12

Flying in from L.A. to attend the Austin City Limits festival, looking forward to it. Anyone out there have any tips/advice that will add to the experience?
Thanks! posted by ryecatcher at 11:08 PM PST - 3 comments

Diets -- what foods have you eaten that worked surprisingly well to curb your appetite and helped you lose weight? Anecdote is fine! Let me explain a few things... [more inside]posted by hodyoaten at 10:21 PM PST - 29 comments

Within the past couple of years there was an art installation in London (?) featuring a work that may have been called "Shy Camera." The piece was a security video camera mounted on an arm. When visitors approached, it turned away abruptly. [more inside]posted by Phred182 at 10:11 PM PST - 4 comments

I bought some nice down pillows for myself, and they smell really weird! I have tried to Febreze 'em, and I ran them through the wash according to the care instructions, but they still emit the odour. Has anyone else ever had such a problem that could offer some advice to me? posted by foxinthesnow at 9:49 PM PST - 5 comments

EarlyAdopterFilter: I've been very excited for iTunes 7, but it seems I've screwed myself during the process. I can no longer run iTunes 7 or install Quicktime! [more inside]posted by Ekim Neems at 7:49 PM PST - 9 comments

WebDesignFilter: I'm wondering if any of the MeFites know of inspirational web design sites that focus on what works in information presentation (e.g., reports etc) as opposed to making attractive home and blog pages? [more inside]posted by planetthoughtful at 6:07 PM PST - 2 comments

If I don't care where I'm going, and I want to pay as little as possible for a round-trip ticket (over a few days) what's the best way to do it? I don't need any advance warning where I'm going... I'm willing to just get on a plane and go, as long as it's a round trip ticket and I can get back within a known period of time. [more inside]posted by phrontist at 5:15 PM PST - 14 comments

Is there a piece of hardware that will let me make my firewire external hard drive network accessible without it being connected to a computer? [more inside]posted by allthingsfixable at 5:03 PM PST - 4 comments

A few years a book of mine was published by a well-known house. Now it is out of print. Last time I looked, a used copy cost $1,000 on amazon.com. [more inside]posted by londongeezer at 4:18 PM PST - 37 comments

How can I best address being on a budget/diet while out with friends? It seems a mention of budgetary/dietary reasons for skipping drinking/appetizers/dessert makes my friends feel bad -- like either we should have waited to go out till I wouldn't have to restrict myself, or chosen a cheaper outing, or that they should be restricting themselves too. [more inside]posted by xo at 4:05 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm searching for a simple ruby/python database application tutorial.
A long time ago, like six years ago, I came across this simple tutorial for php/mysql that showed you, from the ground up, how to put a simple database of your video collection online.
Is there a similar tutorial that emphasizes creating a simple front-end for a mysql database using ruby or python, geared toward n00bs? [more inside]posted by mecran01 at 3:29 PM PST - 5 comments

What single tech issue is likely to cause these three things to occur (when they all recently worked):

Inability to upload using Flickr Uploadr (the message says "can't connect to Flickr")

Inability to sub to podcasts in iTunes

GMail notified can't connect to the server?

All issues relate to stand-alone programs which read information on the internet. And yet, visiting these web sites directly is no problem at all.
These issues are all new, and I think they relate to my new Netgear router software. I don't have these problems on my laptop, even when I'm using it at home wirelessly.
Any of you brainiacs got any ideas? I'm tired of calling India!!More details about this problem can be found in the FlickrBugs forum.posted by abbyladybug at 3:14 PM PST - 17 comments

What are some good strategies and resources for deepening a nascent romantic relationship when your partner is in a two-month pre-election frenzy of activity? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 1:55 PM PST - 12 comments

Why would I want to purchase Air Miles? Specifically AAdvantage Miles. Is the cost of purchasing miles saving you money on the cost of a flight? i.e. Is the value of air miles greater than their purchase value when redeemed for a flight? [more inside]posted by medium format at 1:11 PM PST - 10 comments

Is there some code, in the manner of *69, that returns the number I am dialing from? It doesn't have to be a star code, whatever works. How do telco people do this? posted by everichon at 1:06 PM PST - 18 comments

I have dual monitors (one large CRT and one small laptop screen.) Is it possible to get separate DPIs on each monitor, or at the very least display different font sizes by default on each monitor in Win XP Pro? posted by tnoetz01 at 12:42 PM PST - 8 comments

I live in NYC, and had AOL for Broadband for my internet service provided to me through Time Warner. AOL recently waived their fee's and is now free. I am left paying Tie Warner about $45 bux a month for broadband service.....I wanna find something cheaper, yet just as fast and efficient... [more inside]posted by TwilightKid at 11:52 AM PST - 13 comments

So the new Itunes 7 was just released but I am a little wary. Is there anyplace I can go (or keep my eye on) to see what, if any, restrictions have been introduced by the new Itunes. I am thinking things like Network-sharing (incompatibility with Ourtunes?), Limits on how many times you can burn, etc.? Or will I just have to watch and wait? posted by vacapinta at 11:31 AM PST - 31 comments

At my current place of employ, I have an ever-changing list that I think would look cool on a chalk board. However, I don't like how chalk leaves behind that white haze after you erase something, and I've never been able to acheive the nice solid color that you see at the local coffee shop or Trader Joe's. What are the secrets of a chalk artist? [more inside]posted by c:\awesome at 11:20 AM PST - 21 comments

Could one swim/dig out from the bottom of a 15-20ft deep pool of jello (assuming you could hold your breath for a minute or two...or ten)? [more inside]posted by whatgorilla at 11:01 AM PST - 20 comments

Have there been any situations (either real or in fiction) where the media interfered enough with a criminal investigation that it actually changed the outcome of the investigation? [more inside]posted by MattS at 10:51 AM PST - 19 comments

Going to Hawaii next week. Would love to see Martin Denny, but (RIP). Would love to see Arthur Lyman, but (RIP). Who/What is the next closest, living thing? Vibes are a must. I'll be on the big island. posted by hellbient at 10:51 AM PST - 2 comments

I met someone with friends last week and we really hit it off. I even asked her if she would like to go out with me and see me again, and she quickly said yes. But I never got her contact information and it's been a little bit slow getting it through my friends. Should I use the contact information I can get off the internet (almost definitely her, but work contact information) to call her? Only if, after a week, my friends don't come through with the info? Never? [more inside]posted by jcwagner at 10:00 AM PST - 63 comments

i want to buy a used digital camera online for really cheap. what are the best cameras of yesteryear (say, 3 or 4MP) that can be had for a paltry sum on ebay or other online places? [more inside]posted by yonation at 9:50 AM PST - 23 comments

We move in just a couple weeks. We're stuffing all our belongings that will fit into the car and shoving of. Among these belongings will be two desktop computers. What is the safest way to transport these? [more inside]posted by EatTheWeak at 9:38 AM PST - 13 comments

Is there a dependable program that will do a "freeze frame" of a fresh Windows 2000 install, so that I don't have to install Win, SP4, my basic driver set, DirectX, etc, etc, if/when my computer bites the big one? Ideally it would generate a bootable CD that would replace /winnt and registry. posted by rolypolyman at 9:35 AM PST - 11 comments

Another 'computer bag' question.
I need a computer bag that has wheels and a handle.. I am considering on buying the Victorinox Rolling Trevi. It cost $300.00 pretty much everywhere.
Is it worth it?
What are the alternatives (brands / types) for a similar kind of bag? posted by cowmix at 9:19 AM PST - 5 comments

What was that TV show I just saw in Japan? It seemed to be a comedy about a neurotic architect and his cute neighbors. It intrigued me. [more inside]posted by BlackLeotardFront at 8:48 AM PST - 3 comments

September 11

My crappy, old scanner is on the way out and I'm looking for a superior replacement. Specifically I'm looking for something that will make scanning my oversized illustrations less irritating. [more inside]posted by picea at 9:27 PM PST - 2 comments

I just got back from the Touch n Go party in Chicago and I very badly need a Killdozer patch for a jacket of mine. Did anybody ever make one? Maybe I can create my own, high-quality iron-on? If so, how? posted by NoMich at 9:13 PM PST - 5 comments

Where can I rent a house (for a weekend) that sleeps between 15 and 20 (relatively) near Groton, CT? I know there's plenty that comes up depending on what I search for, but I'm looking for a personal recommendation- some place someone you know has stayed, or a place you've heard is really pretty and well-appointed. The idea here is getting a couple of people together to fish, eat the fish, and fish some more. A lot of us wouldn't mind sleeping on the floors, but the less we have to, the better. So...any ideas? [more inside]posted by paul_smatatoes at 8:50 PM PST - 4 comments

Had PC, got Mac, want to get ALL my songs + metadata off my iPod and into my Mac library. Have tried a few programs and they didn't work out exactly right. Your recommendations please! [more inside]posted by Brainy at 8:39 PM PST - 8 comments

When I read about people putting 10% down for mortgage financing, how are they achieving this with invesment properties which are not owner-occuopied? Read on for a more thorough explanation... [more inside]posted by paulino636 at 2:21 PM PST - 11 comments

Budget first-lens wide-angle options for a Canon 350D purchase? I'm looking at buying the latter, and want to find the most bang for few bucks on the former. [more inside]posted by cortex at 2:07 PM PST - 19 comments

I'm trying to get a DVD-+RW drive working with Windows 98 (first editon). While doing this, I noticed some issues this computer is having with other drives too. [more inside]posted by Nikolai at 1:04 PM PST - 7 comments

Has anyone here had any success working out while using the internet? I'm thinking about buying a recumbent exercise bike that would allow me to prop up my laptop in front so I can pedal and read at the same time, but I'm wondering how practical this idea really is. Anyone tried it? posted by cellardoor at 12:12 PM PST - 19 comments

I just received a bill for taxes on a car I sold in 2001. The taxes are for 2001, 2002, 2003. I have the VIN - but I've moved about 8 times since then, and am not hopeful that I can find a copy of the bill of sale or transfer of title. How can I prove that I didn't own the car during that time? [more inside]posted by barnone at 11:47 AM PST - 10 comments

Several days ago, I found an unauthorized charge (a $40 withdrawal from savings) on my bank statement. I called my bank (Bank of America, Seattle customer, FWIW) and they confirmed that the withdrawal was made from an ATM in the area. This strikes me as a Very Bad Thing, because whoever did it must have had an ATM card that was mine (they didn't; I haven't lost my card) or that appeared to be mine, and (s)he also would have had to have my PIN. Now I have a few more questions. [more inside]posted by rossination at 11:36 AM PST - 25 comments

I have an elgato EyeTV EZ with an pretty new Intel Imac. I've been recording shows and saving them to an external hard drive. The problem is, each hour-long recording is 3 GB and I am running out of room. EyeTV will convert to another video format, but I don't know which I should convert to. I'm looking for the best combination of size and quality. I'd like it to be good enough that I will look ok on a 35' TV (when I buy an EyeHome or get a video airport). Any ideas? Here are my options: [more inside]posted by drewcopeland at 11:29 AM PST - 9 comments

What kind of jobs exist for people who think about numbers and money from a consumer perspective, in a weirdly logical and obsessive way? [more inside]posted by croutonsupafreak at 7:32 AM PST - 18 comments

I've tried for several weeks to find this VBScript program from long ago. It's deceptively simple (create PPT, create slide within PPT, insert image, put title on slide, repeat last three steps until all images inserted). [more inside]posted by ostranenie at 5:47 AM PST - 4 comments

Do you know of any database or website where I can try to identify a famous artwork based on its description? This is both general and specific; I have at this second a particular image I want to identify, and I also have a directory full of other unlabelled images that I will no doubt need to look up as well. [more inside]posted by web-goddess at 10:55 PM PST - 5 comments

How do I best combine running and leg lifts like squats?
In an effort to increase muscle mass, I've started doing a whole body routine at the gym 3 times a week (I used to do chest/back, arms/shoulders, legs). I like the new routine, but it also means I'm squatting 3 times a week and my legs are SORE after squatting (like wobbling up the stairs sore). I'm also still trying to run on off days but it's especially hard even days after hard leg workouts. How do you all combine lifting and running regimens? Does leg soreness from squats get any better with time? posted by rordog at 8:27 PM PST - 21 comments

Can I set up Thunderbird email so that the links in email messages open up my FireFox browser instead of IE? Everyone else in the family uses Outlook Express and IE. posted by sandra194 at 8:14 PM PST - 8 comments

How do rest stops along US highways become liason places for homosexuals? I remember a rest stop near my hometown being notorious when I was a child before anyone could somehow blame the Internet. [more inside]posted by Mayor Curley at 6:07 PM PST - 32 comments

I just bought an antique Japanese doll and she's in fair condition except for one thing--her silk "skin" is very discolored. How can I make her snow white again? [more inside]posted by bristolcat at 4:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Some sourdough recipes advise against using metal utensils and bowls. Why? And then why do these same sources turn around and tell you to put the dough in the (metal) workbowl of your stand mixer? posted by ilsa at 4:03 PM PST - 6 comments

Men's Skincare Filter: the boyfriend is worried that his neck is getting "crepey." (His normal skincare routine - such as it is - consists of washing his face in the shower with soap, then putting on a moisturizer with sunscreen; sometimes he uses my neutrogena anti-wrinkle stuff too.) He asked me for some recommendations for creams or gels to help firm up the skin in that area, but I'm at a loss - googling just turns up lots of very tiny, very expensive jars of fancy sounding stuff by brands I've never heard of. What buzzest thou, Hive Mind? posted by fizzyliftingdrink at 1:15 PM PST - 14 comments

Someone I care for deeply is in a predicament, and I'm not sure what, if anything I can do to help her, but I will be damned if I won't try. [more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:44 AM PST - 36 comments

[SoftwareEngineeringFilter] As an application developer, how do I convince my business users that they don't NEED to see screenshots or a prototype in my design documentation? [more inside] [more inside]posted by PWA_BadBoy at 10:27 AM PST - 22 comments

I am stuck alone at the office to make booklets on our Sharp (MX7000N) copier. I have piles of previous booklets around me that are made with A4 paper. When I try to make a booklet with A4 paper, however, the copier tells me "that size paper cannot be saddle stitched." What's going on? posted by bethm at 9:12 AM PST - 2 comments

How do I record a radio program from my tuner to an audio file on my MacBook Pro? (Free copy of Wagner's Ring Cycle to anyone who can help me.) [more inside]posted by Dasein at 8:59 AM PST - 12 comments